Marcelino: “It was our best game in defence”
Marcelino: “It was our best game in defence”

The coach highlights his side’s hard work and capacity for sacrifice in the win against Girona

The Villarreal head coach analysed the Yellows’ heroic win at Montilivi, where they became the second team to beat Girona at home after Real Madrid (0-1). The Asturian highlighted the great defensive work of his team and the good dynamic of the team in this second half of the season.

A great defensive display

“I’m very happy with the win because this is a very difficult ground to visit and before us only Real Madrid had won here. We have to congratulate the players for the work and the display they put in as a team. I am also very satisfied with the defensive work we have done, defending the crosses on the flanks and in the box very well. Of all the games I’ve coached, it was perhaps the best on a defensive level.”

The team won’t give up

“Our second half of the season is very good. We’ll have Champions League numbers, but we came from a long way back. We’re going to keep going and see how far we get and we’ll be as high up as possible. It’s true that the teams ahead of us in the table are good and have had the consistency that we haven’t had.”

A formidable opponent at home

“What I’m not so happy about is that, from the 20th minute onwards, we lost a lot and it was difficult for us to generate football. The great defensive work made up for that, but we also have to remember how fearsome Girona are at home. To give us an idea, this season at home they have scored in every game and in ten of those games they have scored three goals or more”.

Being careful with losing the ball and wanting more possession

“We started very well in the first 20 minutes and then, my impression is from there we lost the ball very quickly. I don’t like to defend as low as I did today, but Girona also force you to do that. I would have liked to have generated more danger when we came out and had a bit more possession.”

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