While West Ham United’s gloom deepened at home to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Manuel Pellegrini was indebted to the familiar face of Pablo Fornals as Real Betis avoided defeat in La Liga.
In fact, despite all the criticism understandably coming the way of Graham Potter’s Hammers, they actually have as many wins on the board right now as the underperforming Spanish giants.
Then again, if West Ham United’s 3-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest initially looked like an oasis in a desert, another home collapse against another London neighbour transformed that oasis into the cruellest mirage.
A light at the end of the tunnel which turned out to be nothing more than the headlamps of an onrushing train.
While Graham Potter continues to hang onto rare positives – Malick Diouf, Mateus Fernandes Crysencio Summerville were good again while Soungoutou Magassa impressed the fans on his London Stadium debut – one of his claret-and-blue predecessors needed Pablo Fornals to bail him out, Manuel Pellegrini emerging with a point from a game which could hardly have begun much worse.
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Pablo Fornals rescues former West Ham United coach Manuel Pellegrini at Real Betis
At least Real Betis gave themselves plenty of time to mount a fightback.
As West Ham conceded three goals and lost Tomas Soucek to a red card within 17 second-half minutes, Betis fell 2-0 down in less than a quarter of an hour away to newly-promoted Levante.
Following only one win from their first four La Liga matches, meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini may have found himself facing a few difficult questions. Albeit any pressure he may be under pales in comparison to the heat singeing Graham Potter’s eyebrows.
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“It was a terrible start. Two goals conceded in 10 minutes. Starting 2-0 down on the road isn’t easy but, from then on, we played a great game,” Pellegrini told reporters. “We didn’t get upset about the scoreline and created chances through our football.”
While West Ham cult hero Pablo Fornals ghosted into the Levante box before equalising with an 81st minute header, his was a performance of sheer determination and no little quality.
“The Man of the Match,” Andalusian publication El Mira wrote following that Fornals-inspired comeback. “And not just for his equaliser. He orchestrated Betis’ performance in the shadows, and his work allowed the Verdiblancos to breathe.”
Fornals epitomises Real Betis ‘spirit’ but La Liga struggles go on
Playing in a deeper role than he is used to – Real Betis decided against re-signing Guido Rodriguez from the Hammers due to his reported £75,000-a-week wages – Fornals relished the chance to grab a game by the scruff of the neck in a position which allows him more control over proceedings.
While the additions of Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa give West Ham hope of a brighter future, how Potter could do with an all-action, box-to-box operator like Fornals right now.
“I wish those ten minutes could be erased because, from then on, the team did not stop creating chances and playing good football,” says the 29-year-old Spain international, remembered most fondly at West Ham for the late winner at AZ Alkmaar which secured David Moyes’ side a place in the Europa Conference League final.
“We scored two goals, another one that was doubtfully ruled out,” Pellegrini adds, Fornals epitomising Betis’ never-say-die resolve. “We had chances and a large number of shots on goal.
“I liked the player’s spirit, their order, and their belief that we could turn the result around.”