The Villarreal manager underlines his excitement ahead of the opening LaLiga game against Granada

Villarreal manager Javi Calleja this lunchtime underlined that his team is ready for the tough start of LaLiga this Saturday, at home to Granada at the Estadio de la Cerámica (9pm CEST). “During summer, we’ve done well and we’ve been in a really good place. We’ve played nice football and we are ready.” 

For Calleja, the competition among the players will improve the team: “The most important thing is that everyone has performed at a good level and they’ve played well. There’s healthy competition to play wherever from the beginning, but I won’t reveal the XI. There’s talent and there are players who it looks like they will be starters but they won’t be. There will be minutes for everyone to show their level. I’ve tried with various systems and I’m liking 4-2-3-1 best.”

Regarding the upcoming opponent, Calleja warned about Granada’s potential: “They’re a team that will been drilled will that have very effective defensive mechanisms and it’s hard to create chances against them.”

The head coach is satisfied with how his team has looked in pre-season: “We’re taking control of the ball better than last year. Now there is logic to our possession, we’re dominating near the opponents’ box and we’re scoring more goals. I’m happy because what we’ve worked on is being reflected. The team is paying well, we’re competing and we’ve been taking things seriously, even though it’s only pre-season.”

With regards to his side’s more experienced players, Calleja emphasised that Vicente Iborra, Santi Cazorla and Raúl Albiol “will be very important this season both on and off the pitch, as you can tell their experience, and that they bring a lot to the side.”

Finally, Calleja spoke about the lack of difference between the sides in LaLiga: “There’s an equality that you could see last year. This year will be more of the same. Everyone has strengthened will and those who came up will have been promoted because they were very good. If anyone thinks they’re better than anyone else, they’re wrong.”

To see Calleja’s full press conference in Spanish, click on the play logo.