A timely reminder
Villarreal inaugurated their remodelled Estadio de la Cerámica last week against Valencia, but the coronation was this past Saturday. The Yellow Submarine have given their faithful another Champions League semi-final, and a first major trophy in their last two seasons. Yet if for some inexplicable reason owner Fernando Roig needs to convince any fans to return to El Madrigal, all he must do is lead them into a conference room, wheel in a television and then push the video of their match against Real Madrid into the VCR.
Villarreal-Real Madrid was a pulsating, quick, charged, hard-fought match. One of the best in Spain so far this season. Both teams tried to win, both served up dramatic errors, quality that had the crowd cooing, and heroic interventions.
If one man needed it though, it was Quique Setién. Losing three of his first four games, Els Groguets would then go one a run of five straight wins, albeit featuring three lower league sides in the Copa del Rey. With his sixth win over Real Madrid, Setién made a statement.
It had been a while since we had seen that. Rightly, Setién’s time at Real Betis is remembered for free-flowing football and a bold mentality. Towards the end though, the reason it was the end, was that that football had subsided for something stodgier, almost always finishing in a draw.
Coming in like a meteor to Barcelona, Setién’s charms were lost on the dressing room. Replacing a well-liked Ernesto Valverde, his methods never quite took hold. Obliterated into fragments by his journey through the atmospheres, Setién did not last long. It suited everyone else to paint him as a stubborn grandfather figure that did not know what he was doing.
Then he was absent for two years. Returning from whence he came, Setién was content to remove himself from professional football and instead enjoy the picturesque sights of his native Cantabria. When he returned, the poor results at Villarreal were accompanied by stories of a similar tone to those that followed his time at Camp Nou – this doddery idealist is out of his depth.
If that 2-1 victory over European and Spanish Champions Real Madrid was the performance of a team that is not committed to their manager or his ideas, then the Villarreal that are will canter to the LaLiga title. For Los Blancos, it was a nightmarish task to deal with. They could always see the space to be exploited, but 90% of the time, the crucial pass found a yellow shirt.
Over the last three years, Villarreal have put together one of the best squads in Spain, packed with offensive talent. Predecessor Unai Emery did an excellent job in cup competitions and oversaw several goleadas too, but there was always a hint of minor frustration that he kept a tight leash on his forwards. Emery had a successful formula.
For the first time though, against Real Madrid of all opponents, the full attacking potential looked as if it had been unleashed. Gerard Moreno put in a performance worthy of the Ballon d’Or shortlist. Samu Chukwueze delivered the potential that he teases fans with, and Dani Parejo was the captain of the operation without the armband. Ahead of him, Álex Baena continuously got the better of Luka Modric and Aurelién Tchouaméni. And it was thrilling.
How Setién’s spell will continue, how long it will extend, nobody can know. With this game though, he can orate his manifesto with confidence - could a fool mastermind this? Setién has evidence that it can win and also a guide to point to for his players. Villarreal were fired up, and tactically were a step ahead for most of the 90 minutes. This was a timely reminder of how Setién made his name. Given the adrenaline it generated for those watching the encounter, you would imagine that the Villarreal squad must be getting their kicks too.