The Manager says his team must keep their concentration against a competitive rival like Celta
The league break for international fixtures is over and, with it, LaLiga returns and Villarreal get back on the pitch. First Team Manager, Fran Escribá, spoke about the Yellows next league clash, in which they will host Celta de Vigo on Sunday (8:45pm CET, El Madrigal). “It’s true that Celta haven’t started well, but they’re getting back to their best and playing very well. They’re a team that have played together for a while now and are recovering. I prefer them coming here playing well, as this is the real Celta. They’re a team that control possession well and we don’t want that to happen. We don’t want to wait for the counter attack, we want to have possession of the ball, that’s one of the changes we want to make”, he explained. “I don’t like that feeling of thinking they’re not doing well, because we can think that it’s going to be easy because of that”.
In terms of his side’s ever-improving performance, Escribá was wary and cautious with respect to the Yellow Submarine’s good run. “I think flattery is debilitating. My experience tells me that when everything is going well, when we’re playing brilliantly, a turn for the worst is just around the corner. And we’re in one of those moments right now, so after passing through a bad time at the start of the season, we can’t relax now”, he affirmed. He then highlighted that the team “is good, training very hard and working maximally”, given that, without theose ingredients, the team would not be where they are.
The pairing with CD Toledo in the Copa del Rey
Concerning Villarreal’s debut in the Copa del Rey, the Manager weighed up their pairing with CD Toledo, current leaders of Group II in the Second Division B (Segunda División B). “They’re a good team. I know them from last year, from seeing them play against Getafe B. They’re a team that play good football, as Onésimo likes, and they’re doing good things” he commented. “Our aim is to go for it in the Cup. We want to get far and we are going to choose an eleven that can play at the highest level and are always competitive”.
Cheryshev, injured; Musacchio and Borré, doubtful
With regard to injuries at the end of this week, Denis Cheryshev “is out for a small muscular problem”. According to the Manager, “it’s not a tear, but we will let him rest this match. We don’t want to take the risk”. On the other hand, Jonathan has recovered and is available, while Musacchio and Borré are doubtful until Saturday. “They got back today and they’re tired. We will see how they are tomorrow”.
