Iñigo Pérez: We must be fully prepared and show enough competitiveness in the match.

Villarreal manager Iñigo Pérez attended the pre-match press conference and discussed the team's upcoming away game against Alavés. Pérez stated that the team must be fully prepared in terms of intensity, focus, and mental state, and he hopes the players can demonstrate sufficient competitiveness away from home to secure his first La Liga victory as Villarreal manager.  

Speaking about Nathan Saliba's arrival, Inigo Perez gave a positive evaluation, saying, "I am very happy to have signed Nathan Saliba. He has some qualities that we haven't had enough of before, which can help the team improve further. His position is very crucial, and he needs to take on a lot of responsibility. He not only needs to participate in organizing the attack, but also become one of the core elements of the team's operation, and help the team adjust the overall formation's positioning and height according to the situation of the game."  

“We already had a pretty good squad, but playing in both La Liga and the Champions League means the team will face a very heavy schedule. If we want to maintain a high level of competitiveness, then bringing in a player like Nathan Saliba is very important for us.”  

Speaking about the upcoming match against Alaves, Inigo Pérez clearly expressed his desire for victory. He said, "We've always wanted to win. I really hope to lead this team, wearing the Villarreal jersey, to my first victory as a coach. If I had a choice, I would want that moment to come tomorrow."  

Speaking about the potential home atmosphere in the away game, Inigo Pérez emphasized that the team must be mentally prepared and face Alavés head-on. He said, "I always emphasize the emotional intensity and atmosphere of the game. The upcoming match should be similar to our previous game against Santander, with the home fans fully engaged, creating a very intense playing environment for the team."  

"Alaves has a very distinct playing style; they play more directly and emphasize pushing forward. If we can't keep up with their intensity, it's easy for us to remain on the back foot and even be completely dominated. Therefore, we must first compete with Alaves in terms of mentality and intensity, and then gradually take control of the game by utilizing our own football skills."  

“The Champions League is a competition I’ve followed since I was a child, and being able to participate in it personally and be part of Villarreal’s new plans is very motivating for me. As for away trips, I don’t have any particular cities I want to visit right now. If the schedule and travel conditions are ideal, that would naturally be more enjoyable. But for me, the most important thing is being able to participate in this project and be a part of Villarreal, and I’m very happy about that.”  

Image source: Internet/Villarreal official website