Villarreal coach Marcelino: ‘Barcelona are a very good club with strong management’
After Villarreal secured a Champions League spot with their recent win over Barcelona, coach Marcelino has spoken at Montjuic, highlighting the strength of both his team and their opponents.
“We know that after winning the title you can lose focus… but we are very proud that this win has given us the Champions League spot mathematically,” Marcelino said. “Barca have been a great team, and that’s why they have won titles.”
He emphasised the importance of building a strong collective spirit: “We must continue building a great team and have that collective effort for a common benefit. That way, we won’t have problems and will have the ambition to grow.”
Marcelino also praised Barcelona’s professionalism and management: “This is a very good club, with excellent management. Their success comes from having good footballers and good people — that’s the key.”
Despite Villarreal’s success this season, Marcelino recognised the challenge his team faced: “If we didn’t finish fourth, it’s because four teams were better. We must congratulate the champion, Athletic, who took fourth — we were pressing them until the end.”
He concluded by reflecting on the competitive nature of the league: “Barca’s quality and achievements remind us of the high standards required to succeed in La Liga.”
