Hector enjoying the ride at Betis ahead of Zagreb test

Hector Bellerin is loving life under Manuel Pellegrini ahead of Real Betis' Europa Conference League match against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.

The LaLiga outfit go into the first leg of the knockout play-off tie on the back of an impressive 2-0 win at Cadiz.

Friday's victory saw them claim a 10th top-flight clean sheet this term and move ahead of Real Sociedad into sixth.

Bellerin, 28, played the full 90 minutes at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla and he believes the backline is benefitting from the quality of those in front of them.

Speaking at LaLiga's latest edition of their Club Spotlight series, the ex-Arsenal right-back told LiveScore: "I enjoy football when there's an energy and connection between the players.

"And I think this year we have a very strong defence and it's not something that just comes from the back-line.

"It's something that also comes from further up the pitch. We have defensive midfielders like Marc Roca and Johnny Cardoso who are constantly helping us.

"So it's that synergy we have. At the beginning of the season we were trying to find our feet because there was a lot of changes within the squad.

"But it's credit to the structure and the way the coach wants us to play. We're now enjoying a lot of great work and clean sheets.

"We're playing good football, especially on the weekend [against Cadiz]. We were more creative with the ball and had more attacking possession.

"And that's also a great way to defend, you know?"

Forever Green

Bellerin — a vocal voice on environmental issues — is part of a club looking to change the footballing landscape with their Forever Green initiative.

The sustainability platform looking to combat climate change is in its third year and Betis CEO Ramon Alarcon is eager to continue working with other teams in LaLiga.

He said: "The philosophy we have in LaLiga is to work as a group, to share the best practices with other teams.

"We attend many workshops where other clubs explain to us the best about them.

"On the pitch, we have to compete but in the rest of the areas, it's great for us to work together.

"So our project is not necessarily for other teams. However, we are an example that if you do things in the right way, a professional way, you can progress."

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