Marcelino: “The team is happy and motivated”

Athletic Club’s players are in a good mental space after their recent run of good form, according to manager Marcelino García Toral.

The Lions face Villarreal CF in LaLiga Santander on Sunday (21:00 CET) at San Mamés and will be coming into the match on a high after their 0-4 victory against Cádiz CF last weekend.

“We played a great game [against Cádiz] and we’ll try to carry on in the same vein,” Marcelino said at his pre-match press conference in Lezama. “The team is doing well, they’re happy, motivated and training hard.

“It makes you want to come to work. That’s the best thing for a coaching team and it’s the best indicator of where the squad is at.”

Marcelino is taking on a former side in Villarreal and warned that the Castellon-based outfit will be tough opponents.

“They’ve got very good footballers,” Marcelino said. “I was lucky enough to work with some of them and this year they have strengthened well.

“They’ve had bad luck with injuries and that has impacted their ability to build momentum.

“They’re a side who like to have possession and their footballers are very technical.

“Villarreal are a good side with their own style, which is very much in the image of their manager [Unai Emery].”

As for Athletic’s own targets for the 2020-21 campaign, Marcelino has refused to set goals, insisting in taking a short-term approach.

He said: “At the moment we just have to think about beating Villarreal.

“I’m concentrating on the here and now.

“We have to be competitive and play well.”