Javier Calleja: “I had to leave Villarreal and now I'm very happy to coach Alavés”

The Alavés coach spoke first of his experience in Castellón and his memories in the rival entity. “I will always be grateful to Villarreal. I left their grassroots football and then I made it to the first team. I have many friends there and I have great memories of that club. It was time to go out, I have no complaints about it and now I'm happy to be at Alavés, ”he said.

Calleja was questioned about the European Super League. In that sense, he commented that “I refer to what the club has said and I also think that this competition is still a bit far away. We have to talk to UEFA and then we will see if it goes ahead or not. There is still a lot to negotiate but what really worries me is Alavés, it's the next game ”.

The new coach of the babazorro team He continues to have confidence in his players and thinks that they will be able to carry out the season, achieving permanence. “We will try to find the best possible team and come out plugged in to get the victory. It will be a difficult match but we are convinced that we will be able to get the three points ”, he argued convinced.

Calleja adds a draw in San Mamés and a victory with Huesca since landing in Vitoria but Villarreal is a first-rate rival, from the top of the table and playing with exquisite football. “We are not going to play to see who has more possession or not. They are born to take the initiative in combinative actions and positional play. What we are not going to do is give them the ball, that's clear, “he justified.

The Albiazul coach continued to delve into the game of the yellow team. “It is a team capable of going into space, being vertical, they have a lot of punch. But we are in good spirits as the team has recovered to a state of pessimism and now we have to trust what we do and our work every day in training, “he observed.

The good numbers of Calleja They have triggered optimism in Vitoria but the coach prefers to be cautious. “We have joy but not euphoria. It would be a very big mistake and, furthermore, we have no reason for it. The dressing room needed a joy like the other day. The work has to do in the field but also through the results “he mused.

Alavés will not be able to count on three players in the match tomorrow, Wednesday, at 9 pm, at the Mendizorroza field. “Cordoba fell at the last minute and then there are Ely and Duarte. We recovered some players that we had sanctioned. We will try to get the best starting eleven ”, he remembered.

On the margin of improvement, Calleja was clear and forceful. “We are defending well, if you have the ball you can defend yourself better. Yes there is room for improvement when finishing the plays. You have to generate more chances and try to score them, ”he said.

The line to follow has to be the same as in recent weeks. “If we have achieved four points in two games it is clear that we have to work to continue in this line. You do not have to relax but on the contrary, work to achieve good results. It is good that the team is released, that the tension is removed. For that, day-to-day work must also serve and with the idea that each one gives more of himself for the benefit of the collective. Badly managed pressure makes you shrink and you can't give everything you can offer ”, he concluded.