Villarreal pride challenges Chelsea

Gerard Moreno, this Tuesday in Belfast in training prior to the European Super Cup against Chelsea.PAUL ELLIS / AFP

”This is very special for us. I want a second title for my town's team ”. The words of Pau Torres as soon as he arrived in Vila-real after winning the Olympic silver with Spain perfectly symbolize the spirit with which Villarreal faces their second chance to win a European title: the European Super Cup that faces Chelsea in Belfast, Northern Ireland (9pm; Movistar LC). While Pau fulfills a pact with Unai Emery, Villarreal shows their weapons before the big date against the Champions Champions. "You play the final and you go on vacation," Emery told the 24-year-old center-back. The return of Pau was reflected at the same time that the club announced the renewal of Gerard Moreno until 2027. The pact with Pau,Gerard's renewal and Emery's ambition after two lost Super Cups with Sevilla catapult a Villarreal that faces the first big date of the European football season without complexes.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, the club that invested the most in signings last year (247 million euros), marked by the coronavirus, continues with its policy of huge spending on transfers covered by Roman Abramovich's inexhaustible checkbook. At the end of the day, the arrival of coach Thomas Tuchel in the middle of last year straightened Chelsea and rewarded the excessive investment of the English team with the conquest of their second Champions League after surprising City and leaving Atlético de Madrid and the Real Madrid, among others. Now, he is about to sign the signing of Lukaku from Inter (115 million euros). As soon as he does, Monchi, Sevilla's sports director, awaits the long-awaited offer of 70 million for Koundé. The forward will not be in Belfast, but the English champions are a great team. Only the might of Kanté speaks of his enormous level,with Havertz, Ziyech or Werner as other outstanding individuals.

“Chelsea are the best team in the world, but I want the European Super Cup.

I lost two editions with Sevilla and this match is a great challenge for us ”, Emery clarified in the UEFA media.

Suddenly, an imaginary thread crosses half of Europe to link Belfast with Paris.

There is already Leo Messi, the great executioner of Emery's Sevilla in the exciting final of the European Super Cup in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2015, with a 5-4 victory for Barcelona with a double by the Argentine in Pedro's last game as a Barcelona player .

In 2014, it was Cristiano Ronaldo's Madrid that frustrated the Basque coach (2-0 in Cardiff also against Sevilla with goals from the Portuguese star).

Emery can now breathe out of reach for the two great soccer figures in the first two decades of the 21st century.

Tuchel, substitute for Emery at PSG

“Chelsea are a great rival, of course, but so were Manchester United in the Europa League final. We have faith, desire and pride ”, affirmed Gerard Moreno just after stamping his signature of renewal until 2027. It is the last act today of a Villarreal that has gone through a rough preseason. In a match against Marseille, for example, Emery was sent off and was about to come to blows with Jorge Sampaoli, curiously the coach who replaced him at Sevilla in 2016. Now, he will face Tuchel, who also replaced him in PSG in 2018.

Villarreal has the casualties of Parejo and Samu, while players like Foyth, Coquelin and goalkeeper Rulli are doubtless.

Of course, he recovers footballers like Iborra, Capoue and Moi Gómez.

Two are the new faces in the team.

Mandi, who arrived free from Betis, and Boulaye Dia, a 24-year-old French center forward from Stade de Reims for whom 12 million euros have been paid.

The European Super Cup takes place in Belfast, where some 1,000

fans

have to present a negative PCR test to attend the final.

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