This was a disappointing campaign for Real Betis as they finished 15th. After replacing Quique Setien with Rubi and after some exciting signings like those of Borja Iglesias and Nabil Fekir they expected much more.
It just never really worked for Rubi. A home loss to Real Valladolid in the first round got him off to a terrible start and he never really recovered. Even as he tinkered tactically, nothing really seemed to work.
It’s not all Rubi’s fault, though. Individually, certain players have had sub-par performances. Goalkeeper Joel Robles has never looked secure. Marc Bartra has had one of the worst seasons of his career at centre-back. Borja Iglesias delivered just three goals after arriving as the supposed saviour to their striking problems. Joaquin is finally starting to show his age.
Right-back Emerson and playmaker Fekir are the only players who have had truly great seasons. So, there’s a need to dissect and fix this squad in the summer, at the same time as organising the players better than Rubi – who was sacked with eight games to go – did.
Already Real Betis have announced that Manuel Pellegrini is the man who’ll come in for next season. He has a decade of experience of LaLiga and is widely being viewed as a good appointment. But it’s worth remembering that the appointment of Rubi was also praised this time last year.
