Brazilian striker Vitor Roque has admitted that his early months at Real Betis were marked by “a bit of anxiety,” but things are finally starting to click. His hard work is paying off as he’s begun finding the back of the net, scoring three goals in La Liga and two more in the Copa del Rey.

The 19-year-old arrived at Betis last summer on loan from Barcelona. Speaking to the club’s media, he acknowledged that the pressure to score had weighed on him, but he’s been overcoming it with the support of his teammates and the trust of coach Manuel Pellegrini. "He helps me a lot," Roque said.

“Manuel always talks to me and tells me what I need to improve. Confidence is key. He constantly reminds me to stay calm, that the goals will come, and to keep contributing to the team,” Roque shared. He also highlighted the support of teammates like fellow Brazilians Natan de Souza and Johnny Cardoso, as well as captain Marc Bartra.

Scoring in his debut at the Benito Villamarín stadium against Leganés was a turning point for Roque, helping him shake off the pressure. “It was incredible—better than my wildest dreams—to score in my first home match. I was so happy. It felt like a weight was lifted after going through moments only God and my family understand. They made me stronger, and now I feel great in Seville,” said the striker, nicknamed Tigrinho.

Roque, originally from Timóteo, described Betis as “a family” and expressed his excitement for their upcoming match against Valencia at Mestalla. He acknowledged the difficult circumstances the Valencian community is facing after the recent devastating floods.

“We’ll go there looking for a win. The people there have had a tough time, and it’s a challenging situation. In Brazil, we’ve experienced similar things,” he said.

Still adapting to European football, Roque noted how different the style is compared to Brazil. “At Athletico Paranaense, it was a lot of long balls. Here in Europe, there’s less time to think, and the game relies more on quick combinations and give-and-go plays. I didn’t train for that much back in Brazil,” he explained, citing Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar as two of his biggest influences.