Updated:11/08/2021 00:58h
Keep
Despite the hangover of an endless pandemic, the endemic crisis that plagues the Spanish competition and the war between the big names of football, in Villarreal they live times of bonanza. They have just renewed their best footballer, Gerard Moreno, almost for life -until 2027- and tonight they have one of those appointments that remains etched forever in the memory of the fan: they face Chelsea in the second continental final in their history, in the European Super Cup (9:00 p.m., Movistar).
Gerard knows what happiness is. It is the reference of a Champions team of which he was a youth squad, is estimated by the entire human component present in the club, earns a lot of money and lives on the shores of the Mediterranean with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Despite the English temptations, the decision to follow six more yellow courses was easy for a man from Barcelona who arrived in Villarreal at the age of 18 and, at least, will leave town with a standing ovation when he turns 35. For now, at 29 and in his footballing zenith, he is already part of the Castellonese team’s hall of fame: he is the all-time top scorer with 82 goals, tied with another legend that deluded La Cerámica, Guiseppe Rossi.
After an idyllic season in which he scored 30 goals, he distributed 11 assists and raised the Europa League, and a summer in which he was a Eurocup semifinalist, Gerard arrives at the Supercup in his best physical and mental moment. Such is his commitment and his importance in Emery’s painting that he anticipated the return of his vacation to arrive in tune with tonight’s meeting.
In Belfast a title is decided and, like the final in Gdansk against Manchester United, the team from Vila Real party as a favorite to defeat; a role of Cinderella that the Basque coach loves to play.
Certainly, Chelsea is a rival with more arguments than the Spanish team. It has an enviable attack with players like Mount, Havertz, Ziyech O Werner, but its main virtue lies in the defensive zone. Since the arrival of Tuchel and the implementation of 5-2-3, the ‘blues’ became the best defensive team in Europe. They only conceded 16 goals in the 30 games the German coach led last season after Lampard’s dismissal. A Champions League later and with all their arsenal at their disposal, the English will look for their second European Super Cup.
Before the impregnable Kanté, Thiago Silva O Antonio Rudiger, will be one of the most prolific forwards in LaLiga in recent years, formed by Moreno and Alcácer. Although the slump of the Valencian in the final stretch of last season may open the door of the starting eleven to Fer Niño O Boulaye Dia, the nine newcomer from Stade Reims. On the other hand, Emery recovers for this final Pau Torres (newcomer from the Tokyo Games), Iborra, Moi Gómez and Capoue. The worst news is the absence due to injury of the yellow midfield lighthouse, Dani Parejo.
A timely renewal
Villarreal has been adept at announcing Moreno’s renewal two days before a historic match. Through happy news, he motivates his fans in the face of the meeting and implicitly communicates that your club does not sell its stars, who is in good financial health and keeps his feet on the ground. In recent years it has proven to be an institution that does not risk in the transfer market: it dives into the market, sees opportunities and pays well (as Coquelin and Parejo attest). What’s more, has a remarkable quarry infrastructure from which the first and second team squads are nurtured by new players.
Villarreal’s success is no coincidence: they have been in the top four of the League for several decades, they were semi-finalists of the Champions League in 2006 and Champions of the Europa League last year, and tonight you can add your second continental trophy to your showcases. Quite a dream for a club that roamed the humble divisions of Spanish football before the arrival of the Roigs to its board of directors.
See them
comments
.
