“We are playing on a pitch that is not suitable for professional football and it will be very complicated”

Villarreal face the challenge of avoiding another ridiculous cup winner against a rival in three categories. The yellows travel to Lebrija to face an Antoniano team which bases part of its options on the difficulty of a playing field very far from the usual one of professional football. Marcelino assures that he will do without certain footballers to avoid injuries due to this circumstance.

Pregnant : “I’m waiting because the two experiences I’ve had here since our arrival are not very optimistic. We have some doubts. The match is going to be very complicated and it will depend on the motivation we put into it. The pitch is not suitable for professional football and you have to adapt. The Federation deemed it appropriate to play there and it must be done. It is synthetic turf but not a new generation, with reduced dimensions and maximum difficulty. The superiority we have is matched by the conditions of the game. We will have to press the button and work at it. It won’t be great, efficiency and result will prevail to advance to the next round. “This is the opportunity to win a title in six games.”

The Federation deemed it appropriate to play there and it must be done. It is synthetic turf but not a new generation, with reduced dimensions and maximum difficulty. The superiority we have is matched by the conditions of the game.

Marcelino

Good dynamics: “You can win or lose and there are good days and bad days, but a team is determined by its dynamics. If we are two behind the leader, it is because we are doing things well, but we can have bad days. We want to go through, but the scenario brings us difficulties. We have the obligation and they have the hope. They have already eliminated Castellón and they dream of doing it with a Primera”.

Does the Cup have more weight because of the Champions League? “I distinguish the competitions and what happens in one does not affect the other. We had the worst possible opponent that could have faced us, but we have to win because we are the superior team. Against Pafos we lacked motivation and we have to put in our heads how to play on this stadium and that the important thing is to win. It is impossible to do it brilliantly.”

About the rival: “I’m expecting a super motivated opponent, very solvent in their field, who dominates the surface and the distances in their field. At home, they are one of the best in their group. A goal can come from a throw-in, there will be constant stops and little continuity because the distances oblige it.”

As a local, he is one of the best in his group. A goal can come from a throw-in

Marcelino

Around eleven o’clock: “We have to evaluate everything, as always. We want to win. There are players who, because of the surface, would expose them too much. But there are a lot of arguments and players. But we want to avoid injuries. If there are players who have knee pain, we have to know that we are playing on a very hard model with asphalt underneath. We will think about all this but bet on a competitive team to break the bad dynamics of the Cup.”

Should all teams play this round? : “It’s not my responsibility. We know it’s like that. If we had finished fourth, we wouldn’t play this round. It’s more important to analyze the scenario and know if he has the right characteristics to play. It’s not unfair because not everyone accepted it.”

La Liga Coach of the Month: “We always take it well. It’s a distinction that is awarded for the team’s victories. The award must be extended to the technical staff and the footballers, protagonists of this season. I share it with them all and I thank them for this trophy.”