Marcelino feels this Barça is 'an extraordinary team'

Villarreal coach Marcelino García Toral spoke to the press on Tuesday ahead of his side’s historic first appearance in the semi-finals of the Spanish Cup. The man in charge of the ‘Yellow Submarine’ sees Barça as favourites in the tie and reminded everyone ‘two years ago we were in the Second Division.’

On Barça as semi-final opponents: “We are two steps away from the final. The first game will be a clear indication of our chances of getting to the final. Barça are clear favourites because we are up against the best Barça of the season. We go into the game highly ambitious and motivated. Let’s see if we are capable of being competitive once again versus an extraordinary team.”

Playing the first leg away:  Keeping a clean sheet at Camp Nou is difficult. Nevertheless, we have to try and score whenever we have the ball and defend like lions when we don’t. We have to be strong mentally knowing that we will have to run a lot.”

On Barça’s recent good form: “Barça have added new ideas in attack. Before they had the ball all the time, now they have weapons to hurt a side wherever they win the ball. They are the best team moving the ball around in tight spaces. Their three strikers are worth seven or eight Villarreal’s budgets. We are going to try to make sure they have a bad day.”

The tie is two legs: “I would be happy to win. But if we were to win 2-0 [at Camp Nou], the tie would still be open. The most important thing is to compete and enjoy the game. That they say we can compete with Barça is great praise. We will try to make the dream come true.”