We can do a Leicester and silence Kop
VILLARREAL have vowed to follow in Leicester City’s footsteps by proving spending power no longer guarantees success in football.
The Spaniards face Liverpool at Anfi eld tonight, with coach Marcelino predicting they will progress into the Europa League fi nal despite the gulf in resources between the two teams.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp started with Daniel Sturridge and Christian Benteke on the substitutes’ bench as his side lost the fi rst leg 1- 0 in El Madrigal last week.
Marcelino said he was unconcerned by which forward Klopp plays and said: “We come here full of hope and we are going to give it everything.
“Our main aim is to be competitive and we feel we have the capabilities to get through. We have that feeling we can get through to the fi nal.
“I think we will see a different Liverpool. They might try and press us higher up the pitch and I think they might be a little bit more direct. We know it will be tough but I think we can cause problems for the home side.
“It’s down to Mr Klopp who he plays and whether he picks Daniel Sturridge. What I can say is Liverpool as a club have an extraordinary squad of footballers. Am I right in saying Benteke cost about ¤ 50million, which more less equates to the whole turnover of Villarreal?
“We know whoever Klopp puts out in a front three can create problems if we do not guard against that threat.”
Marcelino also insisted his side, nicknamed The Yellow Submarine, who sealed fourth place in La Liga last weekend to guarantee Champions League football next season, would not be intimidated by the Anfi eld atmosphere.
He said: “We will be galvanised by it and I think it will drive us on to perform better.”