Marcelino's Yellow Submarine Dreaming Big After Record-Breaking First Half
Villarreal boss Marcelino refuses to set limits on his high-flying side as they continue their remarkable La Liga campaign with another impressive victory.
Villarreal gaffer Marcelino García Toral is absolutely buzzing with his squad’s performance in the first half of the season, challenging them to kick on even further as they establish themselves as genuine top-four contenders.
Record-breaking run continues
The Yellow Submarine are enjoying their best-ever first half of a La Liga season in the club’s history, with Marcelino’s men currently sitting pretty in third place with a game in hand. The boss was quick to praise his players after their latest victory against Alavés, which continued their red-hot form of 24 points from their last 27 available.
What’s particularly impressive is how they’ve turned La Cerámica into a proper fortress:
- 8 wins
- 1 draw (which they could’ve won)
- 1 defeat (against Barcelona in what Marcelino called “a great spectacle”)
Second-half specialists
The gaffer admitted his team weren’t quite at the races in the opening 45 against Alavés, revealing they didn’t even enter the opposition box until the 31st minute. However, they came out after the break like a house on fire, playing with more pace and directness.
“In the second half we played very well, we were quick and penetrative,” Marcelino explained, clearly chuffed with the turnaround that saw his team bag three absolute worldies.
The Moleiro effect
One player earning special praise was youngster Moleiro, with Marcelino highlighting how seamlessly the Canary Islander has adapted to mainland football. Many players from the islands struggle with the transition, but Moleiro has overcome every obstacle thrown his way.
The boss revealed the club were “unanimous” in their decision to bring him in, impressed by his increasingly consistent performances and defensive work rate.
Refusing to limit ambitions
When asked about his team’s lofty position, Marcelino refused to put a ceiling on what they might achieve. “No tenemos que ponernos un límite, si no soñarlo,” he stated - we shouldn’t set limits, but dream.
He pointed out they’ve only lost to the traditional big three - Real Madrid and Atlético away, Barcelona at home - and even in those games, they were competitive. The gaffer’s ambition is clear: get closer to those teams and see just how far this Yellow Submarine can go.
With this kind of form, Villarreal fans might just be dreaming of Champions League nights returning to La Cerámica next season. Wouldn’t that be a right Bobby Dazzler?