The Villarreal CF coach has stressed the importance of improving their home record in the second half of the season
Villarreal CF head coach, Marcelino García Toral, appeared before the media this Friday to analyse the match against Real Valladolid, corresponding to Matchday 22 of the 2024/25 LALIGA EA Sports season, which will be held this Saturday, at 4:15pm CET, at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
“We are not thinking beyond Real Valladolid. We want to get three points and endorse the team’s dynamic. We don’t think it’s going to be easy. We want to counter Real Valladolid and find our maximum performance. That’s what motivates me and occupies me. That’s all we’re thinking about: the next game. We want to show better numbers in the second leg at home. We come from a good win at home with a great game and a good draw at a very difficult ground like Atlético de Madrid. Now we want to confirm that we are a strong team at home,” explained the coach in reference to the Yellows’ next league challenge.
Along the same lines, Marcelino García Toral prefers not to look at the calendar and go game by game: “We go one game at a time. We don’t look at the next games. We don’t look at the calendar. We know that every game is different and there are many factors involved in winning it: playing well or being successful. We have to be focused and maintain respect and humility. Respecting our opponents means respecting our own values. We have to do that against Valladolid, try to win and then think about the next games.”
On the other hand, the Villarreal CF head coach has also sent a message to the fans, who he urges to cheer the team on tomorrow at La Cerámica: “We try to get them to come and enjoy our game. As always, we ask for their support. When they are with us, everything is easier. We want to give a high level and we want them to appreciate our effort to win.”
As for the goalkeeping debate, Marcelino assured that he has full confidence in the team’s two goalkeepers:”‘I’ve decided who is going to play, but they don’t know yet. It’s more or less clear to me. Diego was good and Luiz has gone from strength to strength. We have confidence in both of them. That’s the most important thing. When you trust them, the feeling is one of security, whoever plays.”
Finally, Marcelino praised Álex Baena’s decision to stay at Villarreal CF despite the million-dollar offer from Saudi Arabia: “Staying shows that he has high sporting and personal ambitions. He has love for this club. For his Villarreal, the team with which he arrived at the age of 11. He has been here all his life. He has not only valued the money. But everything that surrounds his life and this club. He is a very mature boy, with a big heart, intelligent and with personal and professional virtues that are very different to what you might think on the outside. He has character playing because he’s a winner, but he’s a very worthwhile guy.”
