Unai Emery expects a tough and demanding derby against Levante in a knockout tie where both teams have a 50% chance of going through
Villarreal head coach Unai Emery appeared in front of the media to speak about the upcoming Copa del Rey quarter-final against Levante UD (Wednesday, 7pm CET).
A 50/50 knockout tie
“I see each team with a 50% chance of going through. In terms of motivation, both teams are in the same situation, keen on taking steps forward in the Copa del Rey. They’re at home and they’re going into the game in good form. They’re in a good place and they’ve just beaten Real Madrid, which is always a big boost to morale.”
A really tough game
“I’m expecting a really tight game. Levante are a team that know us very well and always cause us a lot of problems. Both teams hope to get to the semi-finals and the two teams will give their best to try and do so. It will be a really tough game and demand the most of us, without any doubt, the hardest we’ve had so far in the competition.”
A matchday squad with few certainties
“We have a number of players who are doubtful for the match. We need to wait until tomorrow to decide who will be in the squad and who will be in the starting line-up.”
Wanting to see a recognisable Villarreal
“We want to be ourselves. Have good positioning, take control of the game through possession and be able to attack their defence in the final third. We will also need to adapt to what they can offer.”
Levante, a talented opponent
“They’re a team who are good on the ball, they have a lot of possession and they demand a lot from through. They’re able of getting in behind, with quick and dangerous players up front.”
The key to the tie
“It will be key to see which team can make a difference through how they play. They have the capacity to do so, and so do we. We will have to improve some aspects from recent games, and be capable of showing our potential to make the game play out how we want it to.”
