Pellegrini refuses to put a date on Isco and Amrabat returns as Betis sweat on key men

Manuel Pellegrini is keeping his cards close to his chest over when Betis fans can expect to see Isco Alarcón and Sofyan Amrabat back on the pitch — and frankly, who can blame him.

The Chilean boss was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s La Liga fixture against Rayo Vallecano at La Cartuja, and the injury updates on two of his key midfielders were, shall we say, deliberately vague.

What’s the situation with Isco?

The Málaga-born playmaker went under the knife back at the end of December for ankle arthroscopy surgery — the result of a freak collision that also did for Amrabat at the same time, which was a proper nightmare scenario. Nearly two months on, he’s still working through a slow recovery process.

Pellegrini was clear that this isn’t a straightforward timeline job:

• Cartilage injuries don’t come with a neat return date like a muscle tear or tendon rupture
• The load Isco can handle has to be increased gradually, week by week
• Any setback in that process could push things back further

The gaffer admitted it’s “difficult to put a date” on it, which tells you everything you need to know about how cautious Betis are being with their talisman.

And Amrabat?

The Moroccan international had his operation more recently — less than a month ago — so he’s even further behind in the process. He’s been doing the early stages of his rehab over in Holland, but he’s expected to finally make his way back to Sevilla next week.

Pellegrini said the staff will need to assess exactly what condition he arrives in before making any calls on his progression. The message was essentially: let’s see how his body responds before we start getting excited.

The bigger picture for Betis

Losing both Isco and Amrabat at the same time has been a proper blow for Los Verdiblancos. These aren’t fringe players — they’re central to how Pellegrini wants his side to play. The fact that neither has a firm return date heading into late February will be a concern for the Betis faithful.

• Betis host Rayo Vallecano at La Cartuja tomorrow in La Liga
• Both midfielders remain without a confirmed comeback timeline
• Amrabat expected back in Sevilla next week for assessment
• Isco’s cartilage recovery continues on a week-by-week basis

For now, the Betis medical team are holding all the aces, and Pellegrini seems content to let them lead the way. Patience is the name of the game — even if it’s a hard sell to supporters desperate to see their best players back in green and white.