Ex-Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini leads SEVEN Premier League old boys for Real Betis against Chelsea in Europa Conference League final, including scorpion kick winger, Watford flop and Arsenal speeds

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Silverware will be on the line and there are some familiar faces on show

Real Betis' squad this season feels like a future quiz question destined to be asked.

Their revival this season features so many familiar faces to the Premier League and English football and the Seville club even have silverware to play for.

They take on Chelsea in the final of the Europa Conference League on Wednesday, May 28.

The Blues will be well primed for their opposition, with many of them having faced a chunk of the Betis squad on these shores before.

The journey for each of the players has been different but what most have in common is that they failed to make the cut consistently in the Premier League.

Of course, they're being led by a Premier League stalwart in Manuel Pellegrini, too. Here's a look at the ex-Premier League players out to spoil Chelsea's party later this month.

Manuel Pellegrini and Antony are pictured after Real Betis' win over Osasuna earlier this month

Hector Bellerin

Arsenal 2013-22

Bellerin is one of the more recognisable names on the list having been on Arsenal's books for years.

Known as much for his loud fashion choices as his speed down the right flank in north London, Bellerin's time with the Gunners started well.

After finding his feet on loan at Watford, he returned to the club, that he'd joined from Barcelona as a teen, and played in the FA Cup final win over Aston Villa in 2014-15.

Bellerin ended up making 183 appearances for Arsenal and scored eight goals - only 24 players have played more Premier League games for the club.

His time at the Emirates somewhat fizzed out after an ACL injury then loan to Betis which they made permanent.

Hector Bellerin was at Arsenal for years and helped them win an FA Cup before moving abroad

Adrian

West Ham - 2013-19

Liverpool - 2019-24

Adrian has enjoyed the kind of career most players would love to have, returning to his boyhood side at the end.

The goalkeeper left Betis in 2013 before joining Sam Allardyce's West Ham.

He went on to make 125 appearances for the club before Liverpool picked up on a free as a back-up to Alisson.

Adrian improved his trophy haul with the Reds, winning the Premier League, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, albeit as a No 2.

He joined Betis last summer on a two year deal and has played 16 times this term.

Adrian (right) was the back-up for Alisson at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and left last year

Giovani Lo Celso

Tottenham - 2019-24

Lo Celso is the man who makes Betis tick in midfield and is another who just couldn't stay away from the club.

He represented them from 2018-20 before leaving for Spurs, initially on loan and then permanently.

There weren't many consistent runs of form or games at the north London club, although he did manage to muster almost a half century of appearances before they decided to move him on.

It has proved to be a much happier experience at Betis second time around after signing a four-year deal and is highly likely to start in a two at the base of midfield against Chelsea in the final.

Giovani Lo Celso never quite made it at Tottenham but is doing well after returning to Spain

Antony

Man United - 2022-present

Has anyone mentioned that Antony is doing rather well at Betis?

The Brazilian's form has been headline news both in Spain and over here - in part at least because it is mirrored by Man United's shocking season.

It seemed increasingly ludicrous that United had spent £81million to take Antony from Ajax given his lack of, well, anything in a red shirt.

He made a promising start but soon became a figure of ridicule. He's not only resurrected his career in Spain in a matter of months - he's been arguably LaLiga's best performer.

Match-winning goals, outrageous pieces of skill and most recently a stunning free kick from range in the semi-final win over Fiorentina have turned him into an instant cult hero and Betis are desperate to keep him.

It remains to be seen whether Ruben Amorim will give him another chance but Antony still has a few games left on loan at Betis and would love to sign off with a trophy to cap a brilliant, if unexpected revival.

Antony has been exceptional on loan at Real Betis having struggled for Manchester United

Pablo Fornals

West Ham - 2019-24

Another member of West Ham's old guard thriving for Betis.

Antony starts on the right and on the other flank, it is Fornals frequently given the nod. The technically gifted wide man became the Hammers' second most expensive signing ever when he joined for £24million in 2019.

He was a streaky player, often scoring great goals but not in great numbers.

One particularly memorable strike was a scorpion kick away at Bournemouth that was a goal of the season contender.

And he'll hold a place in the hearts of West Ham fans for his contribution to their first trophy win in 43 years, the Conference League, in which he scored in the semi-final.

Now he's looking to repeat the trick in the green and white of Betis.

Pablo Fornals scored this memorable goal during his time at West Ham - before leaving in 2024

Romain Perraud

Southampton 2021-24

The French full-back has been used regularly by Pellegrini on the left this season and some will remember him from his time at Saints.

He signed a four-year deal with the south coast club in 2021 for £10million and in a strange quirk scored both of his goals for them against West Ham.

A serious ankle injury in 2023 was the beginning of the end for Perraud, who was loaned out to Nice in Ligue 1 last year.

Betis picked him up in the summer, bringing an end to his patchy time at Southampton.

Left-back Romain Perraud never quite managed to establish himself at Southampton

Cucho Hernandez

Watford - 2017-22

More of a niche one, perhaps.

Hernandez played for Watford, or was on the books at least, for four seasons. For three of those he was loaned out.

Firstly he had a spell at Huesca, then Mallorca and finally Getafe. Hernandez thrived at Huesca, scoring 14 times but it was a more troublesome period at Getafe where he was banned for criticising a referee and suffered a broken foot.

A hamstring injury ruined his final season with the Hornets in the Premier League, in which they were relegated and he ended up scoring five in 25 in total before leaving.

Hernandez then had the best spell of his career in the MLS with Columbus Crew - establishing himself as one of the most prolific forwards in the league.

He was voted into the MLS best XI two years running and scored 44 goals in 75 games for the club.

Betis came calling and poached him for an undisclosed fee. He has four goals in 12 LaLiga appearances this season and those struggles at Watford feel a long time ago.

Cucho Hernandez had three loans away during his time at Watford - but thrived in the MLS

Manuel Pellegrini

Man City - 2013-16

West Ham - 2018-19

The gaffer. Who better to lead the team of Premier League old boys than the veteran boss who spent four seasons coaching over here.

Pellegrini led Man City to the title in 2013-14 and two league cups before a rogue move to Hebei China Fortune in China having made way for Pep Guardiola.

He lasted a couple of years in the far east before returning to the Premier League with West Ham but the man they call 'The Engineer' couldn't make it stick.

Pellegrini was well backed in the market and backed by two record signings - Sebastian Haller (£45m) and Felipe Anderson (£36m).

Pellegrini is fondly remembered at Manchester City having led them to the Premier League

The club spent £155m in transfer fees during his short tenure but he was sacked in December 2019 after only winning five games all season. The club were 17th in the Premier League when he departed.

But he's now enjoying a renaissance at the age of 71 with Betis - still without a hair on his coiffured head out of place.

His blend of promising youngsters, experienced old heads and the magic of loanees such as Antony have helped deliver a superb campaign.

Betis are sixth in LaLiga, still in with a shout of qualifying for the Champions League and it would be the icing on the cake to upset Chelsea in the final on May 28.

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