Exemplary Villarreal stand in Liverpool’s way

Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral spoke carefully but with clear emotion after his team had beaten Liverpool 1-0 in last Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg.

“We’re very proud of how the team played, the work they put in,” Marcelino said at his post-match news conference.

“Since the draw we have all — players, fans, everyone at Villarreal — been thinking about this chance to make history against a team with an extraordinary trophy record.

“Fortunately, we’ve had one of those nights that all professionals want to experience — with the atmosphere, the spectacle, against this rival, with this result.

“Three years ago, nobody would have thought this could be possible. We’ll see if in another week’s time we’ll have an even bigger joy.”

Just over three years ago, Marcelino had taken charge of Villarreal, with the team in Spain’s second division, but now he’s talking about the very real possibility of guiding them into a first ever European final.

A tight contest at El Madrigal on Thursday was decided by a beautifully constructed late counter-attack involving impressive midfielders Bruno Soriano and Denis Suarez, finished from close range by substitute Adrian Lopez.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp told reporters afterwards that his team had deserved more from the game, but visiting coaches often leave El Madrigal ruing their luck.

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, and Sevilla have all lost there this season.

Villarreal came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Barcelona, a result which began the slump which ruined the Catalan outfit’s treble hopes this season.

Villarreal’s lack of high-profile individuals and tactical prowess has seen them compared to Diego Simeone’s Atletico, with both Spanish sides punching above their weight both at home and abroad.

But Villarreal’s success is different — they have risen to their current level without any questionable business practices involving third party investors and super-agents, hundreds of millions in unpaid taxes, or links with unscrupulous foreign dictatorships.

After formation in 1923, the team from a 50,000 population town just north of Valencia played mostly in Spain’s third and fourth tiers, until a first promotion to the top flight in 1998.

The previous year, local ceramics magnate Fernando Roig had taken charge, and his money and intelligent guidance has been crucial in building a club which has impressed both on and off the field ever since.

Roig did not change tack even when a team which had spent a decade towards the top of La Liga was relegated in 2012 after one disastrous season.

His subsequent appointment of former Sporting Gijon, Recreativo de Huelva, and Racing Santander coach Marcelino has proven inspired.

Canny transfer business — such as signing Spain U21 star Suarez from Barcelona last summer — has also helped.

The sense of a well-run club was evident on Thursday, especially in the warm welcome for around 4,000 travelling supporters.

Before kick-off, the home fans unveiled a ‘96 — You’ll Never Walk Alone’ banner, a few days after the official ruling that the Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough in 1989 had been unlawfully killed.

Afterwards, there was a sense of confidence among Villarreal fans that their team could do enough in the return game at Anfield to make the final.

But locals also recalled previous semi-final pain — such as in 2006, when Juan Roman Riquelme’s last- minute penalty miss against Arsenal saw them miss out on the Champions League decider.

More optimistic supporters recalled that Villarreal have gone through in every one of the 21 European ties in which they have won the first leg.

Anfield will surely be heaving on Thursday, but Marcelino’s men have an excellent chance to make their own history. And few clubs are more deserving of success.