Villarreal take shot at Liverpool
IF Villarreal reach their first European final at the fourth attempt, it will be because of a carefully cultivated blend of home-grown players and intelligent purchases.
No one believes they have an easy task in their Europa league semi-final against Liverpool, one of the game’s giants with a clutch of European silverware in their trophy cabinet.
But the Spanish side’s appearance in the last four at El Madrigal tonight vindicates the 19-year strategy of their Valencia-born billionaire president Fernando Roig.
Last year, the club reinvested the €55.5million they received from high-profile sales, including Gabriel Paulista to Arsenal and Luciano Vietto to Atletico Madrid to set them up for the new season.
They brought in former Spain striker Roberto Soldado,
for €10million and Cedric Bakambu for €7million, with the Congolese their top scorer on 22 goals in all competitions.
The newcomers have blended with regulars Bruno Soriano, Mario Gaspar, Jaume Costa and Manu Trigueros, who all came through the academy, the fruit of a €42million investment in the youth structure by Roig when he first assumed control.
With Villarreal on course for a return to the Champions League next season – they are four points clear in fourth place in La Liga with three games left – the mix looks potent for a team who have spent just 16 of their 93 years in the top flight.
However, the club’s focus this week is on beating five-times European Cup winners Liverpool and, having come so close to reaching a major continental final in 2004, 2006 and 2011, Villarreal are determined to finally seize the moment.
“This club has got close several times and couldn’t do it in the end, so we are really excited about playing this semi-final and above all reaching the final,” said midfielder Denis Suarez.
“We’re up against a historic opponent and that makes it extra special, it’s a great stage for the club and for the players.”
In 2004, the Yellow Submarine lost a Uefa Cup semi-final 1-0 on aggregate to neighbours Valencia after a controversial penalty, and were denied a place in the 2006 Champions League final by Arsenal by the same score, Juan Roman Riquelme missing a late spot-kick.
Roig took over Villarreal in 1997 when they were struggling in the second division and had a stadium holding just 3 500 spectators.
Their stadium now has a capacity of 24 890 and it will definitely be rocking tonight. – Reuters