Villarreal coach Inigo Pérez opened the press conference on the eve of the match against Napoli with a message of confidence and preparation. “We are still in the recovery phase and we need energy,” he declared, underlining the importance of superior physical performance to overcome the Neapolitan team. The Amarillo diver also highlighted that although the defeat against Real Madrid left a mark, the club has not lost hope and wants to celebrate the victory with the fans.
In the context of the Champions League, Pérez reiterated that the dynamics of this competition should not be seen as negative. “There is no urgency to win, but we want to win and celebrate,” he explained, referring to previous defeats against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. The coach also commented on Napoli's situation, calling it "a complete team" with a "great" coach and solid tactics. He acknowledged that Napoli have suffered injuries but have also recovered key players such as McTominay, and that the team is ready to play either four or five defenders, depending on the opponent.
Pérez then addressed the issue of the goal, explaining that the lack of concreteness is not due to a lack of work in training, but rather to the quality of the opposing goalkeeper. He expressed confidence that, with time, the team will be able to consolidate the desired results. Regarding the mental atmosphere, he underlined the importance of avoiding the mistakes that occurred against Real Madrid, where anxiety in the final minutes influenced the result. “Tomorrow we must avoid mental errors,” he said, focusing on the value of mentality at home.
The coach also discussed possible tactical strategies, suggesting that playing with three defenders could increase structure and reduce player effort. He expressed his willingness to adapt the formation based on the way Napoli decides to play, maintaining the flexibility necessary to face the match. Finally, he spoke about De Bruyne, defining him as a point in Napoli's favor due to his quality and experience, and underlined the importance of managing strength and mentality, especially after a worn-out match at the Bernabéu.
With the press conference over, Villarreal prepares for a crucial match in the Champions League group stage. The team aims to harness their physical and mental energy to achieve victory against a top-level team like Napoli, with the aim of consolidating their position in the competition and continuing to progress towards the next stages.