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Villarreal learn from last summer’s mistakes getting business done early

Just a week prior to a Champions League play-off fixture against AS Monaco last season, Marcelino left his position as coach at Villarreal.

With some signings having already been made, all with the blueprint laid out by the 50-year-old in mind, the key factor which the Yellow Submarine’s extended success had been based around took his leave, with disagreements with the board over transfers cited as the reason.

The definition of insanity is to act in the same manner but expect different outcomes, so Villarreal’s summer planning this time around has been decidedly measured and logical. Following Marcelino’s exit, former Elche boss Fran Escriba was appointed. An underwhelming choice, many felt, but with the benefit of hindsight he has proven that he provided consistency in a period of great uncertainty in 2016/2017.

 

Mr. Dependable

The system and personnel remained the same under Escriba, with the firm foundations put in place by the Marcelino regime ensuring that Villarreal were tough to break down but quick to break upfield. The now-Valencia coach speaks about ‘automation’ in his team’s play and the Yellow Submarine continued to follow the same programme, just with a different man operating the controls.

A final-day win over Valencia at Mestalla ensured that Villarreal would be involved in Europa League football once again in 2017/2018. It was enough to earn Escriba an additional one-year deal, with the club not committing to a longer-term contract.

While he is the safe option, he may not be the board’s dream man to build a successful era at La Ceramica. Fans have been concerned that their team haven’t been as pleasing on the eye, nor as expansive, under Escriba. But with a dearth of other managerial candidates available, he is being trusted to keep the ship on an even keel until they find the next step to take.

“The start wasn’t easy, but we all rallied in the same direction and we completed a great season. We want to keep growing and be reliable,” the Villarreal boss explained in a press conference confirming his extended stay.

“Our idea is that in the coming year we will be better with how we’re playing, despite the difficulties we will face, and that our opponents will always be improving.

“I want to improve and we have already done well. We have got better in terms of our attacking positional play, and also in the statistics for goals scored and against,” he said.

 

Good Business

Alexandre Pato was sold for the staggering fee of 18 million euros in January, after the club spent around six million euros to secure the Brazilian’s rights during the previous summer. Mateo Musacchio, a first-choice centre-back, has since moved to A.C Milan for the same price. It cannot be denied that Villarreal have drawn in some very impressive funds of late.

Rather than sitting on the resources they’ve collected, it has been immediately reinvested in the squad. Young Manchester City striker Enes Unal, who enjoyed a brilliant 18-goal breakout season in the Eredivisie with FC Twente, is the 14-million-euro forward that will replace Pato in Escriba’s plans.

Ruben Semedo, a physical and dependable centre-back, has recently joined the Yellow Submarine from Portuguese club Sporting for a fee of 15 million euros. While Villarreal’s fans may have had complaints about the aesthetics of their play last term, they cannot accuse their board of holding back in terms of committing on spending for the future.

 

Solid Footing 

Whereas last season, Villarreal were left scrambling for a Marcelino replacement merely weeks before the LaLiga campaign began, this time around they have moved proactively to get their house in order. Even before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, they have a solid squad in place. Barring sales, it should be a group that has the quality to replicate last campaign, or put more pressure on fourth place.

As the Yellow Submarine look to take another plunge into European competition, alongside remaining competitive in LaLiga, they are already in a solid position. Outgoing personnel have been replaced, with the system that protected their goalkeepers so impressively set to continue.

After battling through a difficult transition after Marcelino, they are already geared up to burst out of the starting blocks in August.

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