Marcelino García Toral expects a tight match against Valencia at Mestalla
Villarreal CF head coach Marcelino García Toral has assured that his team will be looking to take all three points against Valencia CF at Mestalla (Tuesday, 9:30pm CET) in order to continue climbing up the table. For the coach from Asturias, the derby promises to be intense and it will be key to maintain defensive order in the first game of the 2024 season. The Submarine coach also had words of praise for new signing Eric Bailly.
Analysis of Valencia
“Valencia are a very intense and well-organised team, they are one of the teams that run the most in LaLiga. They are a very competitive team in which Rubén has been able to bring on young players who are giving a great performance. We have to be solid in defence, they have fewer goals than us. I think it’s going to be an even game, we know their strengths, and we have to bring our strengths to the table.”
Return to Mestalla
“For me, returning to Mestalla is very special, because for more than two years I felt the affection of the Valencia fans. A love that I continue to feel from the fans, who continue to let me know. And that’s what stays with you and that’s what you have to be grateful for. That’s why it’s a very special match for me. We had two extraordinary years there, to which we have to add the affection of the people. I went twice with Athletic and now I go with Villarreal, but as I always say, I want to try to win because it’s my obligation. We need points to move away from the bottom of the table.”
Three important points
“For us it is important to win, the team has won very little so far in the competition. It’s the last game of the first half of the season and we want to win. Right now we’re coming off the back of a win, for us to get a second league win would be fantastic. We know it’s going to be difficult, but we have that intention. It’s no longer about beating Valencia, it’s simply about us. Both the players and the coaching staff are going through a year that no one likes, and we would like to give ourselves and our players some joy. We have a reference, if we are able to play a lot of minutes like in part of the Celta game, we can have a very good game.”
The signing of Eric Bailly
“The winter transfer window is always complicated because it’s halfway through the competition and, whatever additions we can make, I think it’s important that we take into account the time to adapt to a league that may be new and to a country that may be different, and that’s not the case here. With Eric this possibility came up and it was good in sporting terms and in those aspects. Because apart from being a great footballer, we know and we know very well the qualities he has and why he was transferred to Manchester United. We believe that because of his age, because he is very motivated to come, he knows the league and his adaptation should be quick, that everything was positive. So we thought his adaptation was going to be very positive. He has come with the approval of everyone, I think he is at a phenomenal age and we believe in his growth and his capabilities. We all think he can be a very important player and that he can help us a lot. Now it’s a question of working, of making sure he is as good as possible, and that he can give us the performance we all know he can give.”
