Gerard Moreno is the compass, the lighthouse, the pillar, the goal of Villarreal … And from now on, it will have to be the last piece Emery takes from the team, even if he is lame. The Submarine again missed a game that he had under control after going 0-2 in the first act. Villarreal’s problems continue after add the fourth consecutive tie. And that Elche was knocked out, sunk and with the slab of the 15 days without winning crushing the morale. However, the franjiverde set recovered in the second act in an exercise of faith. Carrillo scored 1-2, Gerard left on 49 ‘and that gave Elche the last push to tie a draw.
In the first act, Villarreal scored two goals and I can do many more. The Catalan did not forgive after the gift of Alcácer. This society is deadly. They have only played nine games together and no one knows where the Submarine would be if they had both been at 100% throughout the entire course.
Gerard scored the first, Alcácer made it 0-2 in a heads-up that Edgar stopped and the Catalan scored again after an assists from Jaume. Villarreal went to rest calmly and with the game controlled. There was hardly any news from Elche. Only the daring of Mojica and Rigoni in the first act interrupted Almirón’s flat and harmless football.
Elche met Carrillo’s goal as soon as the second act began. On top of that, Emery changed Gerard, who is not 100% yet. Seeing the Catalan in the stands gave Elche strength to go for the tie. Boyé equalized the shock after a great free kick by Rigoni that crashed into Asenjo’s wood. The Argentine forward fell the rebound and did not forgive.
Villarreal became small with the tie. Emery condemns over and over again the games that have escaped him after taking the lead. The second part turned on the Submarine’s alarms again, which tried to unbalance the shock with more heart than head and with the feeling that point to point will not give him to be in the Champions League.
Almirón: “The tie is a turning point”
The Argentine coach of Elche, Jorge AlmironHe pointed out after the draw against Villarreal (2-2) that the result could be a turning point for the future of the Elche team in the competition.
“I am satisfied with the result, the team’s reaction and the comeback”, assured the Argentine, who appreciated the bravery of his players to neutralize the advantage of a rival “of such hierarchy.” “Villarreal’s goals come from our losses and they have a lot of precision,” said Almirón, who appreciated that in the second half Elche showed “that they can give more” than what has been seen so far.
“I liked the team in the second half. We won all the duels and we risked a lot. That is what we are looking for as a team “explained the coach, who hoped to be able to count on Guido Carrillo and Lucas Boyé as an attacking partner on a regular basis. “Due to circumstances they have not been able to be together, but they combined well and we fear extremes that throw good centers”, Almirón said, calling the tie a “ray of light for the players and fans of Elche.”
The Argentine stressed that it was not easy to play against a team like Villarreal with 0-2 and assured that despite the 15-game win streak, his players are convinced of reaching the goal. “I congratulated the players. We played a different tournament than Villarreal, but we showed that despite losing we are alive. There is still much to do “, he concluded. -EFE
Emery: “I’m upset, not angry”
Unai Emery acknowledged that they have “missed a party that was on track”, something that ensures that “it is not something that does not usually happen to us”. Despite letting that victory slip away, the coach points out that he was not “angry”, although he acknowledged being “upset.”
Match analysis:
“The analysis of the game can be divided in two, we have had very good moments with Gerard who gives us the final phase with success. And without Gerard we lack the lighthouse in the field. The first part we have arrived safely and with confidence, we have left with the idea of staying the same and controlling. Gerard’s injury has complicated us, we have disengaged and we have lost twenty minutes that have made us lose the advantage. We have tried in the end but it has not been possible. We are good in general, but for today’s game we are upset. We do not lose, but these draws do not make us satisfied ”.
Situation after so many draws:
“We can take two paths, not winning makes me worry about this situation. We are waiting to get people back and for them to recover their level, I think that in that line and working on the good we do we can improve. It is true that not having Gerard penalizes us and that occupies us. We have a week to recover players and think about Betis with the idea of looking up and recovering positions ”.
What happened in the second part?
“Elche has pushed and I’m sure there are many things to analyze, but it is true that their goal gets them into the game. After that goal and without Gerard it was difficult for us to go out more and they have taken advantage of it. I’m upset, but not angry. I think the team has reacted with spirit and character but they haven’t hit it. It is true that the team is reliable with the game, but sometimes when the game is complicated and it gets into the mud it costs us a little more. Now we must continue working and seek improvement to win again ”.
Injured:
“Gerard has requested the change and it was foreseen that if he noticed something that said it, he would have noticed discomfort in the twin and that is why we have replaced him. With Coquelin it seemed somewhat complicated, but the doctor has reassured us and it seems that it will not be serious ”.
Disenchantment part two:
“We had a great first half and we had the game on track to win it, but in the second half we let it slip away and it’s something that hasn’t happened to us many times.”