The Catalan defender has highlighted Villarreal CF’s outstanding form as the team battles for third place
Villarreal CF defender Sergi Cardona spoke to the media this Tuesday to discuss the club’s current situation and reflect on both his excellent personal form and the strong moment the team is experiencing, ahead of Friday’s match against Deportivo Alavés at 9pm CET at the Estadio de Mendizorroza.
During his press conference, Cardona emphasised the team’s exceptional performance in LALIGA EA Sports: “We’re having a historic season. The team’s consistency has been extraordinary — so much so that sometimes people can get the wrong impression. Everything is extremely tight, and winning a match is very difficult. It’s good that we demand wins from ourselves, but we must also value them properly. At this stage of the season, everything is very challenging, and we need to appreciate what we are achieving.”
Regarding the team’s objectives, the Catalan defender was ambitious and expressed his desire to fight for third place: “If we’re up there at this point, it’s because the team deserves it. We’ve been third, and now we’re fourth with the same points as Atlético de Madrid. At this stage, we feel capable of competing for that position and trying to achieve it.”
On a personal level, the No. 23 admitted that this has been a season of learning and growth: “I’m growing a lot as a player. Competing with Alfonso (Pedraza) makes both of us better because it forces you to earn your place and not relax. That said, when you manage to get some continuity, like now, you play with more confidence.”
On a collective level, however, Cardona highlighted the importance of keeping clean sheets: “It’s key. We know how important it is to keep a clean sheet. It brings you much closer to winning games. With the attacking quality we have, if we don’t concede, we will pick up a lot of points.”
Cardona also analysed the upcoming match against Deportivo Alavés at Mendizorroza (Friday, 9pm CET): “I expect a very tough and competitive match — full of duels. I imagine they will push hard from the start. That’s why it will be important to start well, be competitive, and then impose our game. Winning duels, defending well and then hurting them with our football will be key.”
