Villarreal’s manager, Marcelino García Toral, has emphasized the need for his team to be fully prepared ahead of their encounter with Tottenham Hotspur in the opening match of the UEFA Champions League, as reported by Softfootball.
Marcelino pointed out the strengths of Spurs, noting their speed and aggressive playing style. Villarreal has begun the LaLiga season on a positive note, accumulating goals, but faced a setback last weekend with a loss to Atletico Madrid.
In an interview with Villarreal’s official media, Marcelino previewed the matchup against the English club. He stated:
It’s going to be very tough because they’re a great team that invested heavily this summer. They are intense, press a lot, and play with speed and aggression. They’ll create plenty of danger at home. They have very good players and want to improve on what they did last season.
Marcelino believes Villarreal must match Tottenham’s competitiveness in their Tuesday matchup. He expressed concern over Spurs, particularly after they acquired talented player Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. He remarked:
We need to be at our very best. It’s essential to be competitive. If we manage both, we’ll be close to winning. We come here with great excitement. This is the best club competition in the world, and it’s a source of pride for everyone at the club. It’s also a reward for the players’ hard work — they’ve earned the right to play in this tournament. We want to enjoy it. Playing against the best players in the world makes you grow a lot competitively.
Tottenham Hotspur recently triumphed over West Ham United in their last Premier League match, defeating the 10-man Hammers 3-0 in a decisive London Derby.
