Villarreal Coach Expresses Pride Despite Loss to Tottenham in Champions League Opener
Villarreal’s manager Marcelino shared his feelings of pride following the team’s 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in their first match of the Champions League.
Match Overview
Tottenham secured victory with an early own goal from Luiz Junior.
Marcelino’s Reaction
After the match, Marcelino commented, “I take pride in how the team battled against a strong opposition. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t manage at least a draw; I believe we merited more. We need to keep pushing forward.”
Player Insights
He added, “For many of our players, this was their initial Champions League experience, and it has reinforced their capability to compete and truly enjoy this tournament.”
Meanwhile, Villarreal wing-back Taj Buchanan remarked after the final whistle, “We will approach every game in the league one at a time. We may not have earned the three points tonight, but we will move on to the next challenge. There are lessons to be learned from every match, especially when facing a top-tier team that has started the season strongly. In the future, we need to make the most of our opportunities.”
Buchanan also expressed enthusiasm about being back in the Champions League, saying, “We’re back where we belong, and we’ll take each match as it comes, aiming to gather as many points as possible.”
