Villarreal coach, Íñigo Pérez, expressed his discontent after the 1‑0 defeat against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. At Saturday's press conference, the coach described the game as a “frustrating” experience, noting that his players “deserved better” and that the result does not reflect the level of play they showed.
Pérez highlighted the quality of his squad's performance, but regretted the lack of precision in the final minutes. “When the goal is close and time is running out, the pressure increases and control is lost,” he explained. “We failed to finish and we were not able to convert the opportunities we had, which prevented us from closing the game.” The coach also emphasized the difficulty of maintaining possession against Madrid's fast attack and the need to improve finishing in critical moments.
Regarding strategy, Pérez justified the inclusion of Juan Foyth in the midfield with the aim of stopping the rival's transitions. “With Foyth in the six position we sought to solidify the center and limit the freedom that Madrid has when recovering the ball,” he commented. Despite the pressure, the coach appreciated the performance of the three midfielders and the team's ability to resist the opponent's pressure.
The coach also recognized the difficulty of neutralizing Real Madrid's offense, especially when they recover the ball and create space. “Real Madrid's transitions are a strong point and every time you lose the ball they penalize you,” he said. Even so, Pérez highlighted the growth of the team and the quality of its performance in one of the most demanding stages of the competition. “If the ranking were based on statistics, we would be in the top two or three,” he said.
Finally, Íñigo Pérez stressed that Villarreal's project transcends any individual result. “The project is above my figure and I am satisfied with the image we have given,” he concluded. Although he refused to draw positive conclusions from the defeat, the coach showed confidence in the process and the evolution of his team. The next challenge will be to consolidate the lesson learned and continue competing with the same intensity in the next matches.