Villarreal Faces Challenges Ahead of Osasuna Match

Villarreal is preparing to travel to Pamplona after enduring four consecutive losses, marking the worst streak under coach Marcelino. Despite this setback and the recent disappointment in Europe, the Asturian manager remains optimistic about lifting the spirits of the squad.

Reflecting on their European exit, he stated, “The mood in the locker room is good, as we have long since lost our chances in the Champions League. When opportunities vanish, it’s natural for the mind to prioritize what is unresolvable. We would have liked to exit the competition with a win, but we still have the chance to make a comeback in La Liga over the next 18 matchdays.”

Acknowledging the negative trend, he added, “We are certainly caught in a negative cycle of results. Across both competitions, we’ve faced four straight defeats. However, we were only below par in one match, which was against Leverkusen. The rest of our games were closely contested. The outcomes did not favor us, but we hope to adjust the minor details that have been excessively punishing and return to winning ways. After our recent game against Madrid, I am not worried as we showcased solid footballing arguments and a commendable intensity and rhythm. This is the path we must follow, even if it hasn’t translated into points.”

Regarding team absences for the upcoming match in Pamplona, Marcelino mentioned, “Currently, we are without Ayoze and Thomas Partey due to injury concerns. Ayoze is experiencing issues in a previously injured area, and it’s difficult to determine how long he will be unavailable. We’re also waiting on the transfer of Alex, and Alfon will not be available as we knew he had an injury upon his arrival.”

When discussing Osasuna, Marcelino anticipated a challenging encounter, stating, “I expect a tough match in Pamplona; Osasuna has won seven of their eleven home games and only lost two. They currently benefit from Budimir’s scoring prowess, who is in good form and gaining confidence with the ball. Their attack is heavily reliant on wing play, quick combinations, and set pieces, accounting for 60% of their goals. We must remain vigilant during set plays, and we need to be proactive in our attacking approach, demonstrating our intent to consistently threaten their goal. It will be a high-paced, intense, and difficult game. We are aware of the demands Osasuna places at home, as evidenced by our draw there last season, where we deserved to win.”

On the defensive lineup choices, Marcelino remarked, “I value both Pau and Mouriño depending on the match context. Pau has been more consistent this season, while Mouriño logged the most minutes as a full-back last year with excellent performance. The advantage is that we have two capable players who can play as center-backs until Willy and Logan return at the end of the season. They have both proven their abilities in both positions.”

Addressing players’ performance dips, he noted, “When results don’t go our way, it’s often a combination of being less decisive, potentially losing some quality in our play, and having certain players underperforming at times. Maintaining a high level throughout the season is challenging, especially for a team not used to competing in three tournaments, such as the Champions League. Achieving 41 points in the first half of the season while participating in the Champions is an extraordinary feat. It’s tough to excel in both competitions; only the elite teams in top leagues manage this. We must put the Champions League behind us as it is no longer viable. Our focus now shifts to La Liga, where we will have uninterrupted training weeks to regain our peak performance.”

On the current poor streak, he added, “Every team faces its first difficult spell at some point. It’s influenced by the competitions and the schedule. In our last five league matches, we faced Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Betis away, which has its impact. We could have won but didn’t. Defeats can be educational, serving as opportunities to learn and improve our consistency in effort and progress. I am not worried at all; these are just dynamics. Competing in the Champions League can lead to such phases, as it demands significant mental and physical exertion from less experienced teams. I trust in our players’ capabilities, attitudes, and hard work. We will inevitably encounter challenging periods, but together and united, we will emerge from this.”

Reflecting on the team’s response after losses, he mentioned, “I prefer not to make comparisons as every match is a unique story with varying circumstances throughout the season. What truly matters is our attitude and team spirit. I see that we are competing well. Football has its cycles; sometimes you win with little effort, and other times it takes more to secure a victory. In recent matches, we’ve scored only once while conceding more than we had previously. We need to restore our solidity in both boxes; that reflects decisiveness. We’ve been creating chances, barring the Leverkusen match, which was a clear defeat. The rest of the games were tightly contested. Currently, the rebounds seem to go against us, and many of the goals conceded have been from deflections. Our current balance is not as solid as before. We are the fourth highest-scoring team in the competition, but since scoring three goals against Elche and Alavés, our offensive production has declined.”

Looking ahead, he concluded, “We must always look upwards. First at ourselves, as we hold the solutions to our challenges. However, if we don’t win, we inevitably glance downwards. Our aspiration is to win, and we seek solutions to enhance our performance. This requires hard work, a strong mentality, and belief in ourselves. We are very close to third place, and with a game in hand, a lot remains possible, especially considering the difficulty of the upcoming fixtures as winning in the second half of the season becomes more challenging. By concentrating on our work, we will find the answers.”