Marcelino: We must remain ambitious; this will be a closely contested match.
2026-01-28 04:34

Villarreal manager Marcelino García Toral spoke to the media ahead of the match on Tuesday, previewing the upcoming Champions League group stage match against Bayer Leverkusen in the 8th round.
In his opening remarks, Marcelino stated that the team would approach the match against Germany with their usual attitude. He said, "We are fully committed to the game, just as we have been throughout the season. We are very honored to participate in the Champions League, thanks to the collective efforts of the entire team. However, things did not turn out as we expected. This competition is extremely challenging for the team, and we should not have suffered this result."
Speaking about their opponents, head coach Marcelino praised their high level of play. He said, "They are a team with great potential and have invested a lot of money. Despite some changes, they still managed to beat Manchester City and Benfica away from home . It will be a tough match against such a flexible, energetic, and fast team. They have fully demonstrated the essence of German football and the Bundesliga, and we will do our best to cope."
Finally, Marcelino predicted a closely contested match. He added, "We hope to create more chances in their penalty area while minimizing our own mistakes. The final outcome will depend on our ability to capitalize on our opportunities; they will put a lot of pressure on us. We must maintain our ambition and unwavering confidence. I expect this to be a closely contested game, with the key to victory lying in our performance inside the penalty area."
Image source: Internet/Villarreal official website
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