Claudio Giráldez is not hiding behind the schedule before Celta Vs Betis. Celta had only one day to prepare for the match, while Betis had two more days of work, but the coach made it clear that the short turnaround cannot be used as a shield if the team does not deliver a good performance.
The training session reflected that reality. Giráldez said it was more about recovery than preparation because of fatigue, a reminder that this is a demanding stretch for Celta. But the bigger message from the coach was simple: tiredness is real, yet it cannot become an excuse.
Giráldez wants energy, not alibis
That stance matters because Celta are entering a busy spell, with Copa next, and Giráldez knows rotation will be part of the conversation. He said he is not rotating as much by choice as by necessity, since the squad is limited in certain positions. Even so, he stressed that the team must find the right energy in the players who start and in those who come off the bench.
There will be changes, he said, and that is inevitable. The key is not simply who plays, but whether Celta can keep their level across a schedule that keeps asking for more every four days. Giráldez said that is extremely difficult, because the workload makes it hard to arrive with both the mind and the legs perfect.
Betis are a test of control
Giráldez also gave a clear read on Betis. He described them as a side with a long-term coach, European experience year after year, and a squad full of talent and resources, especially in attack. In his view, Betis are very hard to stop if Celta do not take the ball away from them.
That is where he sees the match being decided. Celta need to make Betis a long team, force them to run backward, and push them into a defensive phase they do not usually enjoy. Giráldez said that is the key, because Betis are not accustomed to defending deep.
There is also a broader context behind the game. After the Glasgow win, Giráldez said the team were in an ascending process, and that result gave them more precision, better positioning and a stronger physical and mental rhythm. He said the squad is understanding more and more, including players such as Febas and Burcio on the Thursday after the Glasgow match.
So the message before Celta Vs Betis is not about fatigue excuses. It is about proving that a short week does not have to limit the performance. Giráldez has made the bar clear: the schedule is demanding, Betis are dangerous, and Celta still have to compete with enough energy to make the match their own.
