clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Callups, rumors, raves--it's all here, as Villarreal prepares for Twente

VALENCIA, SPAIN - APRIL 10:  Borja Valero of Villarreal looks on during the La Liga match between Valencia and Villarreal at Estadio Mestalla on April 10, 2011 in Valencia, Spain. Valencia won 5-0.  (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VALENCIA, SPAIN - APRIL 10: Borja Valero of Villarreal looks on during the La Liga match between Valencia and Villarreal at Estadio Mestalla on April 10, 2011 in Valencia, Spain. Valencia won 5-0. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
Getty Images


Good morning, groguets!  Before moving on to the first team, let's start with news of Villarreal's Juvenil A squad.  They won their division this season and will compete in the Champions' Cup in early May, facing Real Madrid's team in their initial playoff match.  Congratulations to them! 

Borja Valero has been speaking to the press, first to deny Sr. Roig shouted at the players after Sunday's loss, then to affirm the team won't repeat its poor performance--

Borja Valero: "De las derrotas así es de las que más se aprende" - MARCA.com

Apparently the Roig rumor started because he made this comment to Canal+ after the match:

"Pondremos en su sitio a los que están intentando inmiscuirse en el día a día" (we'll put in place those who meddle day by day).  I'm not sure why anyone thought this referred to the players--given that Hernán Sanz and Borja were forced to deny Borja had told an Italian reporter he wanted to play for Napoli, I think it's more likely to have been aimed at the media, frankly.

Speaking of which, it's time for our daily Rossi rumor, and now I see Gerard Piqué has become involved:

Pique: Rossi better than Drogba. Barcelona must sign him

Let's move on, shall we?

Coach Garrido has made his call for the match in Twente tomorrow.  Both Cani and Catalá are included and are expected to be fit, and the other noteworthy news is the inclusion of Hernán Pérez for the first time.  Marcos Senna is not included, but he is hopeful of being available for the semifinal matches:

Senna trabaja para volver en la semifinal de Europa League

Villarreal flew this morning from Manises airport to Munster, Germany and will bus from there to Enschede for the match.  When the team will be able to fly from the airport it's long promoted on its shirts is unknown, but 
the "airport without planes" continues to make news.  On April Fool's Day a Facebook page appeared inviting everyone to a 'rave' at the airport beginning at midnight April 24th, and around 10,000 people have signed up!  Of course the authorities are now scrambling to ban this event, so the whole thing makes the airport opening seem even more ridiculous--which perhaps was the point?

I'll be back with a full preview of the Twente match this afternoon.  Endavant Villarreal!!