The Yellows midfielder underlined the excitement of the team ahead of its return to the UEFA Champions League in the Estadio de la Cerámica (Tuesday, 9pm CEST)

Villarreal player Manu Trigueros appeared before the media this afternoon to preview the side’s first group-stage game of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League against Atalanta (9pm CEST, live on Movistar+ Liga de Campeones in Spain). The Yellows begin their Champions League campaign as the champions of last season’s UEFA Europa league, in a group that will see them meet their opponents from that final once again, Manchester United, as well as Young Boys of Switzerland.

Excitement and motivation

“We are all so excited to play in this competition. After so many years here in Villarreal, I’ve played in the Europa League, but never in the group stages of the Champions League. The fact that we didn’t have a game last weekend helps us, but also hinders us at the same time. We have prepared well for the game; we know our opponents and we go into the game confident that we can play well. We’re very excited and motivated for this competition”.

The opponents

“Atalanta are a side that will test us to the maximum, challenging us all over the pitch and pressuring us very high. But we know that if we are all playing at 100%, we are a very difficult team to beat. We’re a good team with great chemistry”.

Getting off to a good start

“We’re playing our first game of the tournament at home, on our own pitch, in front of our own fans, so it’s important that we start with three points. It’s a very open group and we know that nothing will be decided until the group comes to an end. We know that this is a very important game”.

A difficult group

“You never know in football. Young Boys have fought brilliantly in the Europa League in recent years, and Manchester United are also a very good side. It’s going to be very open right until the very end. We want to make the Estadio de la Cerámica a fortress this year, and we want that to start tomorrow”.