MADRID, 22 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Villarreal’s coach, Unai Emery, stated that they were left with the “dissatisfaction of the draw” after the 1-1 against Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 and underlined the “reaction” and the “maturity” of its players.
The Basque coach said he felt “the same” as his players when he learned that some had shown “frustration” after the draw. “I am the same from the point of demand that we acquired and of discomfort due to the sensations that we have been transmitting this season in games of this level. But without the result it does not give us that satisfaction. The point of ambition that we have is to arrive here to win and have options,” said an ambitious Emery.
“The team has shown maturity, we have reverted to the game and to the idea and we have been able to control their best conditions and their low system. In the second half we had the option of drawing, we achieved it and after the draw we wanted to go one step We are left with the dissatisfaction of the tie. But it could have been worse, the team has not been afraid, “he told Movistar.
Asked about the second leg, Emery assured that they must “go there to win” and about Dusan Vlahovic, who is a player who “makes a difference”. “In the first play and he could also do it in the 85th minute. It’s normal, someone can have it. We tried to play the other thing they proposed, they didn’t let us run much with Danjuma, with Samu and he had a nice game, demanding and he is going to make him see that steps have to be taken to be a better and more complete footballer. And we too to be better”, he pointed out.
“The most important thing has been the maturity of the team. We didn’t think about the next game. Before you made plans and now you don’t (about the speculation of results due to the double value of the goals). Now we have to win. If we can’t win, tie, but there we are. We are going to recover as we did today. We have taken that line mentally and now we know that there are 90 minutes left, “said the man from Hondarribia.
Regarding the possible red card for Rabiot, the Castellón coach had nothing to object to. “The TV clearly says that it could be more than yellow but the referee has been exceptional. It has been a very good arbitration, I don’t blame the referee for anything. Neither team has been aware of him, perhaps that VAR action, but when they are arbitrations like this, I totally accept what is decided,” he said.
Finally, Emery believes that now they must “focus on the League”. “In the end, it is the one that feeds us to be able to be in Europe. Now those at the top are going to win a lot and if we want to be with them we also have to win a lot. The return leg will be different, but the more we are there, the more options we will have” , ended.