Marcelino confirms a new injury and talks about Mouriño, Ayoze, Pau Navarro, Alfon, Freeman and Osasuna

Villarreal CF

Blow in Champions and final in Pamplona

“The spirits are good because the Champions League had ended a while ago in terms of qualifying. When you don't have any options, whether you like it or not, you always give priority to what is necessary, rather than what has no solution. We would have liked to bid farewell to the competition with a victory. There are 18 matchdays left, and we aim to return to this beautiful competition".

Confidence in changing dynamics

“We are in a negative streak of results. Combining competitions, we have suffered four consecutive defeats. We want to change the dynamics. Only in one of them did we fall below our level. It was the day against Leverkusen. The rest of the games were very evenly matched. They didn't fall on our side. They went to the opponent. We hope to rectify the details that have penalized us and return to the path of victory. After playing against Madrid, I am not worried. We showed good football arguments, in addition to a very good level of intensity and pace. That's the path to follow, even though we didn't earn points”.

Absences

64

Ayoze Pérez
7.150.000€+180.000€    3

J1

DL

32

51

Thomas
1.880.000€+20.000€    -

J1

MD

00

38

Alfonso González
800.000€+140.000€    -

J1

MD

01

“At the moment, we have Ayoze and Thomas Partey sidelined. Ayoze also has pubis discomfort, and we decided he should rest. Ayoze has a problem in an area where he has had injuries before. Therefore, we cannot predict how long they will be out. We are waiting for Alex's transfer. Alfon will not be able to play. We knew he had an injury and would not be available for the early matchdays”.

Osasuna

“I expect a tough match because in 11 games played at their stadium, Osasuna has won seven, drawn two, and lost two. They are currently in a very good goal-scoring moment with Budimir, which is very important. He has gained good ball sensations. They will demand defensively from us. They rely on the wings, quick associations, and set pieces. They score many goals from set pieces. Long throw-ins, free kicks, and corners. We must be very focused on set pieces. And in the game, we must take the initiative. We have to attack the opponent's goal and reach it as many times as possible. It will be high-paced, intense, and challenging. We know the level of demand that Osasuna imposes at their stadium. Last year we drew there”.

Freeman: Mouriño or Pau as center-backs?

0

Alex Freeman
750.000€    -

J1

DF

00

71

Santiago Mouriño
3.600.000€+50.000€    -

J1

DF

10

36

Pau Navarro
2.050.000€+30.000€    -

J1

DF

00

“Both, depending on the match. So far, Pau has played more. He has more continuity from last year. Mou was the player who accumulated the most minutes as a full-back. Additionally, with very good performance. The good thing is that we have two players who can play as center-backs, which gives us added value until Willy and Logan join at the end of the competition. They have shown that they can play both as full-backs and as center-backs”.

Team data in the bad streak

“When the results don't come, maybe we have lost some football and we are less assertive. It is very difficult to maintain a high pace throughout the season, especially for a team not used to competing in three competitions, playing in the Champions League. The first half of the season deserves credit, playing in the Champions League. Expectations were low for this competition, but the credit is there. Being successful in both competitions is very difficult. Only the big teams achieve it. We must forget about the Champions League. It's over now. Now we focus on what's next, which is LA LIGA. Later, we will have complete weeks, which will allow us to regain our top level”.

Negative streaks

“Sometimes the first time has to come. It's a matter of competitions and schedule. In the last five league games, we played against Barcelona and Madrid and faced Betis away. That conditions a lot. You can win, and we were close to doing it, but we didn’t. They are defeats, and we learn from them. We have to be consistent in effort and improvement. I am not worried. These are phases. Playing in the Champions League, this can happen. This competition requires an extra effort. I trust the team, their capabilities, attitude, and work. We will always go through challenging stages, and we will overcome this one”.

To Rise in Osasuna

“I don't like making comparisons. Each match is a story. What matters is the attitude and the team. We have competed well. In football, there are streaks. Sometimes you win with little and sometimes it costs you a lot. In the last games, we have only scored one goal and conceded a lot. We need to regain solidity in both penalty areas. We are creating opportunities. Leverkusen was an exception. Only in that match were we soundly defeated. The rest were very evenly matched. The rebounds haven't been in our favor. We must try to reverse the situation, and that's what we are working for. We are the fourth highest-scoring team, and since the Elche and Alavés matches, we have decreased our offensive production”.