Marcelino on Baena, Ayoze, Pino, Foyth, and Pedraza

Villarreal CF

Analysis of the match

"The victory could not come in any other way than by suffering. There's a reason why Rayo's trajectory this season is where it is. When you are left with ten men, it's much harder. We were left with ten men at La Cerámica and today it was them, which gives you an advantage. Even so, they pressured us a lot and when there's a minimal advantage, you know they can complicate things for you. We could have sealed the game with a second goal, but we left it open until the end. However, we are satisfied with the work and the result."

The moment of Baena and Ayoze

201

Álex Baena
14.170.000€-30.000€10

J25

8

J24

15

J23

6

J22

5

J21

MD

76

139

Ayoze Pérez
8.570.000€+300.000€11

J25

7

J24

11

J23

6

J22

0

J21

DL

011

"They are two very talented footballers, internationals with the European champion team. They are performing at a very high level. But not only them. I am grateful for the whole squad's season, for the commitment they show. Having the points we have means we are a good team."

Keeping a clean sheet

"At the end of the first half of the season, we made an effort to improve defensively and concede fewer goals. Our numbers were very improvable. We have turned that situation around."

Performance of Foyth and Pedraza's return

0

Alfonso Pedraza
450.000€0

J25

-

J24

-

J23

-

J22

-

J21

DF

00

42

Juan Foyth
3.330.000€+120.000€10

J25

5

J24

5

J23

6

J22

-

J21

DF

00

"We are very pleased because Foyth and Pedraza were sidelined for a long time. They had to start over. We are especially happy on a personal level. When you have injuries of this type, you suffer a lot. They are two good footballers, and we are very pleased with their return."

Defensive work of Baena and Pino

201

Álex Baena
14.170.000€-30.000€10

J25

8

J24

15

J23

6

J22

5

J21

MD

76

118

Yéremi Pino
5.230.000€-10.000€4

J25

7

J24

5

J23

6

J22

2

J21

MD

41

"Well, we knew that we couldn't open up the game, we had to close it. We knew that if we went back and forth, Rayo would exploit all defensive weaknesses. We didn't know it for sure, but we had to avoid that back and forth. We tried to finish our plays and then maintain a work and positioning that prevented that first counterattack. If they managed to do it, as some did because they are very good footballers and also have it very well organized, we had to retreat. In modern football, it demands effort from all players. I am proud of the work they both have done and that the rest of the players have done. If we are not able to combine efforts among the 15 players on the field, we wouldn't have won today. And well, they are young lads, internationals, we are very happy to have them with us, and hopefully, together we can make their performance, although it is already very good, continue to grow. Especially Jeremy, because we all know he was out of action for 10 months, and that period of inactivity requires an adaptation and performance process, but fortunately, he is achieving it."