Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini was delighted after their Europa League victory over Ludogorets.
Betis won 3-2 as Luiz Henrique, Joaquin and Sergio Canales struck for the LaLiga outfit.
Pellegrini said, “I said before this game we were playing a very good team. They won their league for the last 10 years and they just beat Roma. They have very good technical players. For the people it was a very good game and for us also because we could beat them and we have six points now.
“They came back twice. We twice had a two-goal advantage at 2-0 and 3-1 but in the last minute of the first period [with] the free-kick they made this count and the second half was exactly the same – we had a very good goal from Sergio Canales then [a goal from] the rebound of a corner allowed them to have those 10-15 minutes having control of the game but I think we defended well.
“Joaquín deserved these minutes – he is working very hard every day without any doubt about his physical [condition] He’s a privileged person because not many players can play in the way he does at 41 years old. I am very happy for him because he deserves it for the way he works every day.”
On Henrique, he added: “The way he started getting used to how he must play here in Europe, I think he will be a really important player for us this season. He has one against one [ability], he has good skills, he has his first goal. I am very happy for him.
“He is a very young player and it’s not easy to come directly from Brazil to Europe – a lot of players need some time to adapt to the way they must play here but I think Luiz Henrique is on the correct path to being a successful player here in Europe.”
