Real Betis boss Pepe Mel is confident that his side can overcome their difficult start to the season.

Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Elche has left the Spanish outfit in 15th position in the La Liga table, having won just two of their opening nine matches in the league.

"The idea was clear, to open the field, to use the wings and full-backs, but we have not been able to. We easily were able to get to the attacking third, but then we encountered 10 players stuck in the penalty area," Mel told reporters at a press conference.

"It was hard to score. With everyone from Elche back, it was so much more complicated. We then lost what we had started with, a good defensive security. It cost us the 0-0. We have to grit our teeth, work harder and seek solutions with all the effort that we can. In week nine we cannot give up and think that everything is going to be bad. That aura affects the players.

"People cannot reproach the players. I have to focus on what I can fix, in the defensive freshness that we have lost. In addition, we still have issues in front of goal. If one is linked with the other, it explains today's defeat."

Betis battled for fourth position for a large part of last season, but were eventually made to settle for seventh.