Fajardo: "We must have personality and not be afraid"

Betis sporting director Fajardo urged his side to play with personality and without fear against Borussia Dortmund, rating the German club a step above their three previous Champions League opponents.

Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo addressed the media ahead of the club's Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, emphasizing the importance of playing with personality and confidence against the German side.

Fajardo acknowledged Dortmund's quality and experience at the highest level, describing them as well-balanced between physicality and technique. However, he backed Betis to compete, pointing to the calibre of players in Manuel Pellegrini's squad. "The Borussia has players with a lot of hierarchy and experience at the maximum level, but I think Betis also has important players with equal or even greater trajectory, and above all we must have personality and not be afraid of what we face," he said.

Fajardo rated Dortmund a step above the three previous Champions League opponents Betis have faced this season. He stressed the importance of remembering where the club has come from and taking the fixture one game at a time, while expressing pride at competing in such a demanding stadium. He also backed the experience of Pellegrini's squad to handle the pressure of the Signal Iduna Park atmosphere.