Marcelino García Toral sets out the path to follow in the quest for victory against Atlético de Madrid (Monday, 9pm CET)
Villarreal CF head coach, Marcelino García Toral, said this afternoon that his team is ready to go for the win this Monday against Atlético de Madrid at the Estadio de la Cerámica (9pm CEST). However, he highlighted the potential of the visitors and hopes that the response from the fans will be magnificent.
Competing after the break
“I think we know the fixture list from the outset, I don’t think that a break is an indicator of a change in the dynamic. It’s useful to recover, but in terms of the game, when you’re in a good dynamic it’s because of solid foundations, because of work, not because of chance. The players are in good spirits and with a good attitude, we’ve just come from a joy at home and we want to continue in the same way.”
Analysis of Atlético
“They are a very tough team to play against, with Simeone at the helm for 13 years, which shows his great ability. It is a reference in this leap in quality and maintenance of level. A big Champions League team, which will play in the quarter-finals and compete for titles. It has an extraordinary coach and is a great club. It will be very difficult, but with our fans, at our ground where we have shown ourselves to be more solid, we believe we can win. It’s our attitude and the commitment with which we will start this match..
Message to the fans
“We’ve come from two great home games in a short space of time. One we beat Valencia in the derby and in the other, against Marseille, we were on the verge of a great achievement. Let’s see if they help us now in the same way, we hope it’s a full house because it’s a great match and very attractive. Let’s see if we’re capable of combining our efforts.”
Demanding schedule in the fight for Europe
“Football has these things. We went to Barcelona with the need to get a result to escape from the bottom, which was what was troubling us and making everyone uneasy. And then we played Real, Betis, Valencia… and you also thought about winning to open up some distance from the bottom. And football leads you to accumulate good results and now you want to win to be at the top. That’s why we can only think about tomorrow, focusing our attention on what’s most immediate. The results will tell in the end, but it’s very difficult. There are 27 points to play for and we are two and three games away from the European places and there are two very difficult games coming up. The most sensible thing to do is to think about tomorrow’s game.”
Opponents’ attacking potential
“Atletico are a very powerful team, with great players and with a very consolidated idea. We have to play at a high level and make sure their best players don’t have their day. We have to be accurate in the penalty area against a team with a knack for scoring goals now that Griezmann is back. This break will have helped him to recover his fitness level and he is a determining factor. But they have an attacking cast to choose from that is lethal. They are a solid and winning team who know how to play this type of game where they have a lot at stake. We are doing well and have managed to minimise our opponents’ chances, and offensively we are one of the best in the league. We have won the games against the teams ahead of us in the table.”
LaLiga coach of the month award
“I’m satisfied, let’s say it’s an individual distinction but it’s not really. It’s the work of the whole staff and the players who achieve the victories. If you don’t win, the coach doesn’t get any distinction. I’m very happy, but I’m sharing it with the coaching staff, the club and especially the players, who are the ones who bring us joy.”
