Unai Emery predicts an intense clash against a dangerous Atlético de Madrid side
Villarreal head coach Unai Emery has analysed this Sunday’s clash against Atlético de Madrid at the Cívitas Metropolitano stadium (7.30pm CEST). For the Basque manager, the Submarine will have to play a perfect game to get the win.
A big challenge
“It’s repetitive to talk about the virtues of Atlético de Madrid, of the growth they’ve had in 12 years, which has been tremendous. We’re facing a team who are among the Spanish elite and the European elite, so it’s extremely demanding. On top of that, they have had a great pre-season, with few games, but with convincing results. The match is a challenge, the feelings are good, but it’s a huge challenge.”
An attractive game
“They’re an opponent who make it very attractive to play against them, it’s attractive for us and for the fans of both teams, and for football fans. Two good teams, each with their own footballing reputation, and in this case, with the advantage that they have over us, an advantage we always want to reduce.”
Controlling the game
“We are going to try and take control, to be able to develop our idea of playing, but there is a part of the game in which we have to adapt to the players with a lot of quality that they have, who run out wide and are very dangerous, such as Carrasco, Joao Felix and Morata, who has scored a lot of goals. They’re a very strong Atlético side.”
Good dynamic
“The truth is that the team is working very well, we had a good pre-season in which we did things well and we worked on what we want.”
Squad construction
“The club has done a great job when it came to letting the players go we thought we needed to let go. It’s true that due to injuries, we are a little short at the moment, although we have the option of adding a few more players. But those of us who are here are very much focused on the present, on being responsible for what we want, and with the mentality to be able to compete.”
