Brazilian winger Antony was driven by a desire for 'revenge' upon joining Real Betis on loan, following his struggles to justify his high transfer fee at Manchester United, according to Betis head coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Antony transferred to Betis in January, having scored only five Premier League goals in two-and-a-half years since his €100 million ($113 million) move from Ajax. The 25-year-old has already equaled that total in 17 LaLiga appearances with Betis and added four more goals during the club's journey to the UEFA Conference League final, where they will face Chelsea on Wednesday.

In a pre-final interview in Wrocław, Poland, Pellegrini noted that Antony was motivated to prove himself.

'I spoke with him before he joined Betis. He mentioned he wasn't playing due to dissatisfaction, but he had many grievances about his past experiences,' Pellegrini told reporters on Tuesday.

'He wanted to seek revenge, and at Betis, he has achieved it. He has performed as we know he can, as it's challenging to live up to a 100-million-euro price tag. Antony is an excellent player, and this stint at Betis is a pivotal moment to boost his career.'

Antony's future after Wednesday remains uncertain. Betis has expressed interest in retaining the Brazilian international in Seville, but they have acknowledged that the financial demands for a permanent deal might be unattainable.

While Betis operates on a modest budget, their UEFA Conference League final opponents, Chelsea, have substantial resources. However, Pellegrini, who once led Manchester City to a Premier League title, emphasized that budgets will not matter on the field.

'We don't see ourselves as underdogs,' he said. 'Tomorrow, we have the same opportunity to win. From the first minute, we'll fight for it.'

'The budget of each team doesn't matter. In 90 minutes, we all have an equal chance to win.'

Real Betis last won the Spanish league in 1934-35 and has claimed three Copas del Rey, with the most recent in 2022, but they have never won a European trophy, having never advanced beyond the quarterfinals before.

'Belief is the first step to victory,' said Betis captain Isco. 'This will be a tough match, but we trust our team. We've shown we can beat anyone, and we're excited for this final to bring joy to our fans, who deserve it most.'