Unai Emery underlines the respect the team has for the cup
Villarreal CF head coach Unai Emery appeared in front of the media to analyse the upcoming Copa del Rey game against CD Tenerife (Sunday, 6pm CET). The Basque manager underlined that the Submarine will need to demand a lot from themselves and put in a complete performance to win the knockout tie in the last 32 at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López.
A complete performance to avoid surprises
“In Tenerife, we will have to put in a complete performance and try and stop them from surprising us, by neutralising their strengths, and from them imposing our style of playing.”
Matching Tenerife’s motivation
“CD Tenerife are a club in the second tier. They’re an opponent who have the advantage of playing at home. They’re a team that dream of doing something big in the Copa del Rey. Last season, Athletic Club, who reached the final, found it really hard against them. We respect this competition a lot, and we want to have our journey.”
Going for an XI with some guarantees
“We are trying to find the best solution with regards to what the opponents offer, and what we want to offer. There are situations that strengthen us, as the players who have played in the cup and the Europa League performed very well. We will try and find the best XI for the game.”
Stopping a team in good form
“They are knockout ties where going through or being knocked out depends on just one game. We will have to adapt to what they demand from us and we need to try and impose our way of playing, and control the game. They will have their moments. They are dangerous in transitions and play out from the back well. They play with a 4-4-2, with strikers who offer a lot of options, quality options on the wing to alternate play either by cutting inside or going wide, and full-backs who offer width. We want to end their good run. To do that, we need to play the game like we want to.”
A squad to dream in the three competitions
“We have a deep squad with experience. Many players are used to competing every three or four days. When the level that is being demanded of us is so high, we try and make sure every player gets action. This team is ready to play in all three competitions.”
