Juventus had no idea what hit them and Bayern Munich did not expect it either, but Liverpool was warned, armed and not so stupid. They are also better. Villarreal manager Unai Emery insists that after defeating two giants on the way to the Champions League semi-finals, his team no longer has the element of surprise to help them overcome them. Instead, they need to create the “perfect” performance to beat a Liverpool team that he described as “updated and improved” – and previously “great”.
Emery was sitting on the bench when Sevilla beat Liverpool in the Europa League final in 2016 at the end of Jürgen Klopp’s first season at the club and in the stands in Madrid, when they won the Champions League three years later. He also suffered an defeat at Anfield by Arsenal. Now he says he will sit on the sidelines of Anfield and face a team that is different again, a product of the plan and the personality of their manager, which has grown into something even more complete than ever.
“We played with Klopp’s team in this final in 2016 and the fact that they are here in 2022 speaks volumes about patience, faith and leadership [needed] to build a team, “Emery said. “This is the best Liverpool I’ve ever seen. I was there when that great Liverpool won the Champions League and this year, looking at them, analyzing them, it’s better. Liverpool are in a great moment with a project that has been growing with Klopp for years.
“I see an updated and improved version. They have found excellence in certain players, “Emery said, offering an admiration analysis that dismissed speculation that Liverpool could be stopped simply by playing deep and being denied a place to clash.
“A team that ran extremely well, excelled in space, pressed very high and returned the ball very quickly, has now found a way for players to combine and find spaces inside,” he said. “They are a team with a very clear identity, which Klopp designed and improved. There was intensity, attacking full-backs, a lot of centering. Now you see players with good legs inside, like Tiago [Alcântara]like Fabinho, like [Sadio] Mane, who plays inside more. In previous years, Manet would be quick to stand behind you – it was hard to stop running into space; now he goes inside, he has the ball, there are more breaks, more combinations with teammates, connections with [Mohamed] Salah. They signed with Luis Diaz, who can dribble, who is present inside, who can combine and also play with the intensity they want, someone who can change the tempo and play in intermediate positions. [between lines].
Unai Emery (left) celebrated as Sevilla’s manager in May 2016 after winning the Europa League final against Liverpool. Photo: Martin Meissner / AP
“You see Liverpool built on the image of their manager: with a smile, happiness, energy. And besides, like the ability to run that they always had, there’s a break now. It may be harder for them against deep defenses, but it happens to everyone and it is a country that can play deeper, open the field and gather players inside, an improved team. “
This is a country warned of the threat facing Villarreal and is unlikely to fall into the trap of Juventus and Bayern. The Spanish side felt that it had been underestimated and perhaps even disrespected by its previous opponents; the only complaint is that such a mistake is so unlikely to be made by Liverpool.
“The element of surprise has diminished,” Emery said. “In the first draw against Juventus, the element of surprise was there, as we were not the favorites and we also lost 1-0, which was important in terms of Juventus not reacting. Against Bayern, I think it was also important, giving us the opportunity to play from deep positions [in the second leg].
“It’s not like that anymore: if you’re in the semifinals, it’s because you deserve it. And what we heard from Liverpool, the things they said were very intelligent, the respect they showed – they know us, they know it’s going to be difficult, the potential we have. They are loved, but with respect.
“We have to analyze, prepare, create the best version of ourselves, let the wave carry us. We have to try to achieve the perfect game: we know that this is a semi-final and that we are playing with the biggest favorite, but we believe in ourselves and we want to have our place on the field. It is not a question of completion and satisfaction [to be here], no. We play with a team that under normal circumstances can be better than us, but we have our mechanisms, our answer and we have to look for ways to beat them, to compete. Above all, we will experience it. “
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