The Villarreal B manager reflects on the season after securing survival with the Mini Submarine
Villarreal B head coach Miguel Álvarez has looked back on the season after confirming the team’s place in the division, ahead of their final match against Betis Deportivo (Saturday, 7pm CEST) at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol.
Survival secured
“I’m feeling very calm now. I’m always optimistic and I believe that the players, with the way they have been working, were going to get the job done. But we had a tough opponent in Sevilla Atlético, who were also fighting to reach the play-offs. In football, you try to control what you can, which is not much, and then there are always difficult circumstances that arise. There is always a bit of fear. We tried to use that fear to energise us, not to hold us back. In the last match, I think the lads did really well. They put in a sensational performance.”
Next up: Betis Deportivo
“Every team always has something to play for. We have prepared for this like a normal week. Of course, we go into it feeling happy because the main objective has been achieved. We are more relaxed, but with the same desire to compete against the opponent in every area. We want to limit their strengths and try to win. This match is important. It is the most important one because it is the last. For many of our players, it will probably be their final game and we want to win it.”
Season review: results and development
“There are two ways to assess the season: results and player development. From a development point of view, it is very clear to me. We have always focused on the players and their growth. You only have to look at how much they have improved in every area. Many of the players who started the season with us have now made their debuts for the first team. We are especially proud that Pau Navarro and Pau Cabanes are now playing in the First Division.
“In terms of results, we might not be quite as satisfied, but that is part of the process. If you give a lot of minutes to young players who are new to this level and still adapting to the division, it is not easy. From that point of view, we are pleased. Many players who started the season with Villarreal C are now part of our squad.
“That said, I am a bit frustrated with our results. I think we were capable of doing better. We had to cover gaps in key areas of our game and did not quite manage to fix them. In the end, our numbers are decent. We currently have a +8 goal difference. The second halves of matches have cost us a lot. We have dropped many points in the final minutes of games.
“We managed to turn that around a bit by the end of the season by improving our defending at set pieces. We stopped losing points in the closing stages and that helped us get better results. It has been a difficult season in that regard. Set pieces are so important in football. But once again, from a development point of view, I am very happy, as I am every year. Both my staff and I have dedicated a huge number of hours to every single player. There has been a lot of work done. We have planted the seeds and we will see the results in the future.”
