El Madrigal, Villarreal
Tuesday 30 September 2008 – 20.45CET
Group E – Matchday 2
The team that manages to control possession and stay focused in a carnival atmosphere will emerge victorious from Matchday 2 at El Madrigal when Villarreal CF host Celtic FC.
Vital experience
That was the unanimous verdict of Manuel Pellegrini, whose side achieved a notable opening-day draw at European champions Manchester United FC, and Gordon Strachan who is looking for the first victory in what will be Celtic’s 18th UEFA Champions League away match. Pellegrini and his players are convinced the Scottish champions now have enough experience and quality to register three away points in the imminent future. But they are determined that this result should not occur on their watch – despite the assistance of a large, boisterous travelling support.
Home record
Villarreal, second only to Valencia CF in the Liga after defeating Sporting Gijón on Saturday, have not lost in the six home UEFA Champions League games they have contested and are unbeaten at El Madrigal in all competitions since December. Pellegrini wants the fortress mentality to continue. “It doesn’t concern me that Celtic play so strongly at home and then lose away,” said the experienced Chilean coach who took his team to the semi-final of this competition on their debut in 2005/06. “Every new game turns a page and I’ve emphasised to my squad they must produce a
top-quality display to beat Celtic. When you play British-style teams it’s often the case that they are used to getting the ball back quickly. One of the keys to playing well against them, and winning, is denying them possession.”
Tight defence
The Yellow Submarine are missing Nihat Kahveci because of an adductor injury, and do without Pascal Cygan and Mati Fernández for tactical reasons. But their defence, where Gonzalo Rodríguez is likely to return, is superb. Villarreal are among a privileged group of three, with Liverpool FC and Juventus, in Europe’s leading leagues in having conceded only two league goals this season. “We are an attacking side in philosophy but we’ve learned to defend really well, both with and without the ball,” agreed Pellegrini.
New approach
Strachan is deprived of full-back Andreas Hinkel and must make a late decision on the fitness of striker Georgios Samaras who played in Saturday’s defeat of Aberdeen FC. The Celtic manager believes his charges, who drew 0-0 with Aalborg BK in Glasgow on Matchday 1, need a more conservative attitude when they use possession than that which serves them so well in Scotland. “The key to Champions League success is use of the ball,” he argued. “Winning, retaining and then using the ball with pace and intelligence is the next level for this team, and I hope we are now better equipped for that task than previously.
Proud display
“Everyone seems to think that 4-5-1 is the best style to defend, but it hasn’t worked for us so I’m going to try a different approach.” Celtic’s two away victories during their pre-season, against FC Porto and Feyenoord, may provide the template. “The tactical approach for this game won’t be a total surprise to my players although it needs to differ from how we play in Scotland,” said Strachan. “But, above all, I want a performance we can be proud of and then it can be in the lap of the Gods.” Cazorla opts out of Celtic fan club Santi Cazorla may struggle to hide his own enthusiasm about the visit of Celtic FC and their colourful fans, but the Villarreal CF winger is urging his team-mates to avoid the distraction and ensure they pick up three points.
Celtic fan club
The diminutive Cazorla is one of Villarreal’s most prominent homegrown players and fully understands what the local community feel when European football’s élite club competition comes to town. The addition of Celtic’s famously vibrant supporters brings extra spice. Since the last time the two sides met, four years ago in the UEFA Cup, there has been lasting friendship to the extent that the Villarreal branch of the Celtic fan club now has 600 members and a waiting list. “I just love the Champions League as a competition and you always want the matches to be spectacular,” said the 23-year-old. “But it’s clear there will be lots of noisy Celtic fans at El Madrigal and that adds to the fun.
Serious task
“However, our task is to take the points first and entertain second,” the Spanish international continued. “I was already playing at the club two and a half years ago when we reached the semi-finals [against Arsenal FC] and it’s a bittersweet memory. In fact, the last thing that happened at this stadium in this competition was [Juan Román] Riquelme’s missed penalty which put us out. Now we have the pride, the ambition and the talent to go far in the Champions League again, and we need to win against the likes of Celtic.”
No nerves
Celtic striker Scott McDonald shares Cazorla’s eagerness for what promises to be an atmospheric encounter, although he understands manager Gordon Strachan’s call for calm and conservative use of the ball against Villarreal. “With all respect to our Scottish rivals, it’s true that if we lose the ball [in the Scottish Premier League] we get it back pretty quickly and often without being punished,” said the 25-year-old. “Too often in Europe we’ve lost because of squandering possession or chucking in a cheap early goal. In the Champions League you always meet top-quality footballers so the punishment for not being careful with the ball is usually conceding or not getting possession for a good while. We need to be more patient and wait for our moment.”