The Asturian coach emphasised the need to be solid at the back and show composure on the ball (Sunday, 2.00pm)
Villarreal CF head coach Marcelino García Toral spoke to the media on Friday to analyse the build‑up to the upcoming match against Elche, corresponding to Matchday 27 of LALIGA EA Sports, which will be played this Sunday at 2.00pm at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
During the press conference, the Asturian coach broke down the qualities of the Elche side: “They are a brave team, very direct and combine well. They have goals in them. Their three forwards have already scored 15 goals between them. They also have pace on the wings and players with good technique. On top of that, they demand a lot from you because they are one of the few teams that defend with individual marking. They force you to make decisions constantly.”
According to the Villarreal manager, the key to getting a good result at La Cerámica will be solidity and clarity on the ball: “They will demand that we defend very well and that we are dangerous when we have the ball. Against them you need a lot of movement in attack and the ability to defend strongly. And, as always, what happens in both boxes determines the result. I hope we can impose ourselves at home in front of our fans.”
Elche arrive at the match still without a win in 2026. In fact, the Submarine already defeated them in the first match of the year (1-3), played at the Estadio Martínez Valero. “When we played there it was one situation, now it’s another. In any case, I see it as a match between two teams that need to win — one trying to move away from the danger zone and the other, us, looking upwards. Each side will try to win with their own strengths. We’re playing at home and, although we know it will be tough, we want to win.”
Below, you can watch Marcelino García Toral’s full press conference ahead of the match against Elche CF:
