Villarreal’s Argentine goalkeeper underlines the team’s keenness to face the exciting end of the season
Villarreal goalkeeper Gero Rulli appeared in front of the media in an online press conference from the Miralcamp Training Ground ahead of the match against Real Madrid, which will take place this Saturday (4:15pm CET) at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Rulli underlined the team’s wishes to face teams such as Real Madrid and Juventus, and end the season in the best way possible. He also underlined the team’s good performance in defence, with ten clean sheets already this season.
Check out the stand-out quotes from him below:
Good defensive performance
“I think that to be a consistent team who competes well, our strength needs to be in defence, to then generate our own goalscoring chances. We’re happy with the defensive work, from the strikers to the goalkeepers, and it has paid off because we’re one of the teams who have conceded the fewest goals in LaLiga. I’m sure that it will continue to pay off.”
A key point of the season
“For us, every game is key, although there are matches where winning is fundamental, as was the case against Real Sociedad, Rayo and Betis and the team reacted in the best way possible. Now, the league leaders are coming, who will demand a lot from us. At their stadium, we put in a good performance. Now, we’ve got players back. We will put in a good performance and we will be 100% ready.”
Looking back at the season so far
“Now in LaLiga, which was always the most important competition for us, we’re close to where we want to be, but we know that we’re still short of a few points. We’ve improved a lot during the last month and a half. Being knocked out of the Copa del Rey was a tough blow. In the Champions League, we now have the reward for a good group stage. Generally, the team has fought back against adversity and it’s been a good season.”
Optimism
“We want to be up there year after year. The club is doing a lot of work to compete with the best, and we know that. The month of January was tough because of injuries, because of COVID-19 and because of the Africa Cup of Nations. Now the majority of us are available and we want to improve on an individual basis, because based on that, the level of the group as a whole also improves. We’re excited about what’s ahead, but we know it’s going to be very difficult.”
Lo Celso
“I think that he gives us something extra as a team and will help us to improve. I can’t describe in words how he plays and who he is. He’s a Copa América champion, he’s a world-class player. I’ve known him for a long time and I know the sort of person he is. I’m really happy for him to be here with us. Hopefully it goes well for him and we adapt quickly to him, and him to us, so he can put in some great performances.”
Gerard
“He’s our focal point. He was our top goalscorer last season. There’s a big difference when he’s there and when he isn’t, but every player will be ready and perform at the level expected of them.”
