Quique Setién has highlighted the Balearic side’s defensive capacity and speed on the counter-attack (Friday, 7.30pm CEST)
Villarreal head coach Quique Setién has appeared before the media to analyse the match against RCD Mallorca, corresponding to Matchday 2 of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA Sports season, which will be played at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.
The coach from Santander highlighted the footballing differences between Real Betis – the last opponent of the Yellows – and RCD Mallorca: “I expect different games because they are two teams that have nothing in common. We have to adapt to Mallorca’s qualities. They are a team with options and they know how to change their shape depending on the demands of the game. They don’t need much to create danger. They have an extraordinary ability to stand firm in defence and they also know how to do damage up front.”
Despite starting the league season with a defeat, Setién also assured that it is still early days and that the team will improve with every game: “There are always things to improve. We have to keep working and focusing on the positioning of the players and the defensive aspects. We will also be getting into a rhythm of competition.”
On the other hand, the head coach acknowledged that to win in Mallorca the team must be convincing in both areas: “I think we’ll have enough control in the game, but that’s not enough. We have to be able to create danger, be accurate in front of goal and control Mallorca’s defensive actions, stopping their counter-attacks and long balls behind the defence. They are a dangerous team.”
Finally, Setién acknowledged that the game against the Balearic side will be an “important challenge” that the Submarine will have to face: “It will be a complicated game. They’re a very difficult team. They don’t look for the ball as much as we do. They will try to take advantage of our mistakes and retreat quickly against their counter-attacks. I want to see how my team manages, facing an opponent that defends very well and knows how to counter-attack.”
