“Emery’s departure left us emotional”

Alex Baenaforward of villarrealspoke to EFE about Unai Emery’s unexpected departure from Aston Villa, which left them “a bit emotional” while, he assures, “everyone” is included Quique Setien and he trusts that the break will be good for them to “work” on their new ideas and “clear their minds”.

“With any coach who comes, it will be very difficult,” recognized Baena from the concentration of Spain U-21, while praising the figure of Míchel, his coach at Girona during his loan last season who, at first, it evoked the difficult moment when he left his Roquetas de Mar for Villarreal, when he was only ten years old.

When we spoke with Luis de la Fuente on the day of the concentration, he emphasized your versatility. Where are you more comfortable?

Since I was little I’ve played as a midfielder, second striker, 10… That’s where I’m most comfortable because I’m closer to the goal. Later, at Villarreal I played on both flanks and I’m happy. In gaming, anywhere.

He said he wanted to be close to the goal. This season he has scored nine goals. Did you work on this aspect last summer?

I haven’t scored so many goals since cadets (laughs). I’ve never been obsessed with the goal, but this is a pending account I’ve had for the last few years. As I was lucky to score two from the first league game, it changed my chip; I had more confidence in front of goal. Everything I touch I put; I don’t even believe it.

With those nine goals, he is the Spanish footballer, along with Rodrigo (Leeds United), in the top five major league goalscorers. Did you handle this data?

I saw it on Twitter, yes. Being the Spaniard with the most goals with Rodrigo, who is a top forward, of absolute rank, makes me happy. I didn’t expect this before the season started.

You are on Luis Enrique’s shortlist. On Friday, were you waiting for the call for Qatar 2022 in case your name came up?

Just being on the prelist is a prize. My goal this year is to get a place at Villarreal after a move to Girona, and being on the shortlist is more than enough reward. If Luis Enrique calls me, it’s only a dream to play in the World Cup, but I’m more aware if he brings my teammates Yeremy and Pau. I am very happy for both of them, especially Yeremy, because he is the one I have the most relationships with; I was with him all day.

When I looked at his stats I was surprised by the number of yellow cards he was seeing. 17 last season and nine this year. There is a lot for an attacking player…

Yeah, well… ever since I was a kid I’ve been a lot different off the field than here. In the field I have quite a strong character. The protests are quite visible to me. It’s something I have to control, but never change it, because it’s part of my game. In the end, I’m like that on the field. This is my spirit of play. I’m going to continue like this, trying to control it a little bit.

Something similar happened to Iago Aspas

Off the field super shy, quiet, I don’t talk much, reserved… but I enter the field and I forget.

One of the yellows this season is for his shirt in memory of Llaneza. And that’s what got him fired.

The referee is correct because it is stated in the regulations. I didn’t know 100% that if the shirt grew a little from the neck up it would be yellow… the referee’s gesture was good. Although it is true that sometimes in some rules they are not strict, but he acted correctly. If it happened to me again, I would do it again because José Manuel for us, especially for me, since I came to Villarreal at the age of ten, has been a very special person for me and my family. It was a gesture he deserved and would repeat it a thousand times.

That family philosophy is the key to this Villarreal…

It was always a big club. In the last two or three years with the Europa League title and the ‘Champions’ semifinals, they have become more famous around the world. The board of directors is always attentive to everything, they help the fans a lot, they go to see matches of all categories… we all know each other and no bad words pass through the club.

In retrospect, how important was your debt to Girona for everything you are going through today?

At first, when they told me that I had to leave on loan, it was quite difficult and difficult for me, because it was the first time that I had to leave the club after ten years there and the memory of the first time I arrived. kinda came back to me. at the very small Villarreal, which had a bit of a bad weather. It tormented me. I came after spending a month with covid-19, I wasn’t feeling well physically… everything kind of came together. Ultimately, this is the most important step I’ve taken in my short career. This is what brought me to this level. Míchel’s figure is very, very, very important to me. All the good things happening to me this year and all the good things that will happen to me are thanks to him.

How hard it is to be away from home at the tender age of ten. Her mother had discussed this a few weeks ago…

I will thank him for all the good things that happened to me. Above all, for my refusal to go home. I always remember the ride from Roquetas to Villarreal where I cried, always telling him I didn’t want to leave. He always told me that it was my dream, that I had to endure and that I could never go back. Every week she calls him crying because she wants to go back. We talked a lot on Whatsapp and not on the phone call because we didn’t want to look bad. He was the one who endured the most.

Let’s talk about Villarreal’s season. Did reaching the ‘Champions’ semi-final set your expectations too high?

He was a little strange with everything that happened. But when a team, very similar to last year, sets the bar very high, it’s normal for people, and ourselves, to set the bar very high and not meet the expectations that we have. But we have enough of a team to do something good this year, even though everything with the coach happened and it made us feel bad; but we have a very good coach, we have to adapt to his idea of ​​the game and we will try to work during the break to adapt. We rely on ourselves.

How was Emery’s departure from the locker room? It almost happened last year in a similar situation

A bit strange. No one expected it. It was from one afternoon to another. Last year I lived far away and it seemed like he was going to leave, but in the end he didn’t. But this is a professional decision, which may not be understood by everyone, but those of us who are part of it can understand it. Emotionally, it was a bit of a shock because we had done the work, from many years together… it was quite difficult to continue everything with a new coach with a new system and a new mentality of the game. But we are a squad that looks like a family and everything will be fine. Coach and I are together.

Setién and Emery, two coaches with different ideas. The result didn’t go well, the meeting in the locker room… how was the situation?

Any coach that comes is very difficult. Furthermore, they don’t follow through on results, which creates more tension and doubt. The meeting is to talk to each other, all together to reach an agreement and go together. In the end, we are all with the coach and we will try to do our best to adapt to his idea as soon as possible. It was great to have a break to work and get our minds off all these weeks.