Two days after their draw against Juventus and on the eve of their league clash against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, Villarreal coach Marcelino held a press conference. Regarding the challenge against Los Blancos, he stated: “We approach this match with a strong desire to win. Real Madrid is a formidable opponent, and coming off a painful defeat, they will be even more dangerous. Playing in their stadium will be very tough, but we are excited. We have shown that we can perform well against top-level teams, and I don`t believe tomorrow will be any different.”
What will it take to win?
When asked what it would take to win, Marcelino replied: “The key is to minimize errors and defend effectively, both as a team and individually. We must stay compact, be bold, and show personality with the ball. We need to be clinical in attack and ensure our opponents aren`t. To defeat Real Madrid, we must play a perfect game in every aspect. It`s not something that happens often, but we must try with that mindset.”
How has the team recovered after the Champions League efforts against Juventus?
Regarding the recovery after the demanding Champions League match against Juventus, he commented: “We will have to see. It`s still early, as it`s only the second day. For now, our perception is that we have recovered well, but monitoring our progress is crucial. Against Juventus, we expended immense energy; it was the most physically demanding match of the season. Now we need to recover both physically and mentally. We want to maintain a positive mindset that will help us compete, and we will certainly make some changes to the lineup.”
Are you happy to have reached Pellegrini`s record as the coach with the most matches in the club`s history?
Regarding reaching the record for most matches as the club`s coach, equaling Manuel Pellegrini, Marcelino stated: “This makes me very happy and is a great source of satisfaction. It shows that we feel comfortable here and that the management is also pleased with our work. I want to thank the president and Fernando for their trust, as well as everyone who has helped us feel at home at this club, both during my first and second spells.”
