Iñigo Perez: I believe that as long as the team avoids unnecessary mistakes, they can further improve their chances of winning.

Iñigo Perez expressed his regret that his team paid a heavy price for crucial errors. Despite Villarreal dominating the game on several occasions and scoring three goals, they ultimately lost 3-4 to Liverpool, failing to achieve their desired result. Following the third round of the Champions League, Iñigo Perez spoke to the media in the press conference room at Anfield Stadium.  

Iñigo Perez said : " We scored three goals and showed some great performances in the game, but in the end we still couldn't win. Therefore, I think the focus of the post-match review should be on the mistakes we made."  

"If we had gone into halftime with the lead, we would have had more tactical options in the second half. Unfortunately, we allowed Liverpool to equalize at 2-2, which significantly boosted their confidence. After all, the game was played at Anfield, and the opponent was Liverpool. These subtle factors, along with others, ultimately had a negative impact on us."  

In reviewing the match, Inigo Perez pointed out that the initiative changed hands several times, and the atmosphere shifted constantly with the score. He said , " The level of competition was extremely high, the whole game was dramatic, and the emotions of both sides changed throughout the match. Such scenes are not unexpected at Anfield. Even when Liverpool were temporarily at a disadvantage, a successful goal often boosted their morale and put more pressure on their opponents. Throughout the game, both teams consistently demonstrated the ability to compete with each other; neither side was completely on the defensive."  

" If we can avoid some avoidable mistakes, I believe the team can further narrow the gap to victory and is capable of putting up a stronger fight against strong opponents in such an away game ."  

Finally, Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez pointed out that the initiative in the match changed hands several times. He added , " After we extended our lead to 0-2, our opponents launched a fierce attack, putting us under a lot of pressure. At that point, we had to stabilize ourselves, weather that difficult period, and then look for opportunities to regain control of the game. In fact, both teams had a clear advantage at times. In the final stages, we had another chance to change the game, but due to a lack of decisiveness and ineffective attacking play, we ultimately paid the price."  

Image source: Internet / Villarreal official website