Quique Setién has analysed the game against Real Madrid (Saturday, 4:15pm CET)
Villarreal CF head coach Quique Setién has been speaking to the press ahead of the match against Real Madrid, which will take place this Saturday at 4:15pm CET at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Here are the key points he made:
The opponents
“We don’t have to learn about Real Madrid at this point. We know that they are a great team with great players and that they will certainly put us under a lot of pressure. We can now face the game with optimism and excitement because we are in a good moment of confidence and feeling. This will help us against Madrid.”
The match
“We can expect anything from Real Madrid. When they have to defend they do it very well because they are quick, strong and intelligent players and, when they are close to their area, they are consistent. In attack they have quick, unbalanced players and if they have a good day in any play they can create danger and score goals. The big teams need fewer chances than their opponents to win. The match is going to be a game of alternatives and we have to be intelligent.”
The keys to the match
“We know we have to be very confident on the ball. There will be times when we can dominate the space to prevent them from coming out with quick players. This part is fundamental if we want to win the game. For our part, we must take advantage of the chances we will have when we generate them.
“What I would like is that what we really propose for this game we see on the pitch. We have to be able to keep our concentration and the moments because opponents like Madrid score a goal more easily than others, but if we are intelligent we will surely be able to hurt them”.
The battle for Europe
“Right now I don’t think we can make a real assessment of the situation regarding the European places. Nobody can draw definitive conclusions about what is going to happen because there is a long way to go. Teams go through moments and a good run puts you at the top, but a bad one takes you out. Winning costs a lot and in LaLiga there is a lot of equality and everyone suffers. Whoever has the most consistency and maybe a little bit of luck will be there, but it won’t be decided until we’re close to the end of the competition.”
