The Villarreal CF head coach analyses the team’s current situation ahead of the clash against Real Madrid (Saturday, 9pm CEST)

Villarreal CF head coach Iñigo Pérez spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the match against Real Madrid (Saturday, 9pm CEST) at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The Yellows coach spoke positively about the work done during the international break: “I said it after the last match, that the break was good for us to find our bearings, regain our balance and analyse what had happened from the start of the league campaign until the last game. It’s true that, as the days go by, you start to miss the competition.”

also expressed his satisfaction at having had the opportunity to work with players from the Yellows Academy: “I’ve enjoyed the week getting to know the academy players. We’ve involved different players depending on the positions we needed. So I was looking forward to this break to reflect, knowing I would have time to get to know them. I also had conversations with the different youth-team coaches.”

Regarding the clash against Real Madrid, the Villarreal head coach emphasised the importance of the setting: “It’s the perfect stage to express ourselves and show what we can do, knowing that the challenge is as difficult as it gets. We know the opponent will test us and put us under pressure. In these environments, you have to be aware that you’re going to be attacked, and we need to lose that fear.”

also highlighted the motivation generated by a fixture of this magnitude: “Winning and making a statement is always positive. We’ll try to do exactly that. These kinds of stages force you to prepare very specific tactical plans because any mistake is punished. So, while being aware of the quality of the opposition, we have to focus on ourselves and not be afraid of what everyone is talking about.”

As for the type of match he expects, the Navarrese coach explained: “I imagine a game in which we’ll be able to press high, knowing that they’ll look to attack the space in behind. With the ball, I see us trying to dominate, and they’ll be waiting for our mistakes to attack us. Players repeat patterns and behaviours because they usually bring success, so we know what is likely to happen in each situation. The key is how we approach the game to stop them hurting us, and I hope we can be effective in both penalty areas.”