Marcelino: «We should have finished the game earlier» | OneFootball

The Yellows head coach valued the win against Elche but admitted the team must improve their performance in the closing stages

Villarreal CF head coach Marcelino García Toral spoke to the media after the match against Elche, which ended in a 2–1 victory for the Yellows.

“It was an even start, but after one of their chances everything changed. We created a lot of opportunities and moved the ball very quickly. We had several chances to score the third goal and we didn’t manage it. Then we had a half-hour spell that we didn’t like at all. We put a favourable result at risk. We had very clear chances and didn’t take advantage of them,” analysed Marcelino.

In the same vein, the Yellows coach pointed out that his team dropped back too much: “We had Elche on the ropes. We stopped and from that moment we stopped playing in their half and began to spend more time in our own. We stopped winning duels and lost depth. That gradually wears you down. We must demand more from ourselves to give that extra push in the final minutes.”

Marcelino also underlined the merit of his side competing for third place: “We are on the path to achieving two consecutive Champions League qualifications for the first time in Villarreal’s history. That is something we should value.”

Below, you can listen to the full press conference from Marcelino García Toral after the match against Elche CF: