UNITED KINGDOM: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Villarreal hold their final training session ahead of their Champions League match semifinal first leg against Arsenal

Record ID: 841120

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Villarreal hold their final training session ahead of their Champions League match semifinal first leg against Arsenal
  • Date: 19th April 2006
  • Summary: TRACK: FORLAN AND SORIN AMONG OTHER PLAYER DURING MATCH PRACTICE TRACK MID VIEW: JOSE MARI (LONG HAIR, HEADBAND)
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2006 13:00
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  • Location: United Kingdom
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  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8OXUW9WSBRCR6ZJMA7JMZ0X8Q
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  • Story Text: Villarreal held their final training ahead session ahead of their Wednesday's Champions League match semifinal first leg against Arsenal on Wednesday (April 19) in London.
    The Spaniards arrive at Highbury without Argentina centre-back Gonzalo Rodriguez, who will miss the World Cup after tearing ligaments in his left ankle in Friday's 1-0 defeat at Barcelona.
    Juan Manuel Pena, a Bolivian international who has been Rodriguez's regular partner in central defence, is missing after straining knee ligaments against Barca. He is also a doubt for next week's second leg in Spain.
    Villarreal goalkeeper Sebastian Viera is sidelined due to suspension.
    Striker Diego Forlan, who moved from Manchester United to Villarreal and was top scorer in Spain last season with 25 goals, is comfortable to know that Villarreal are the underdogs.
    "We want to win. We know we were not the favourites before, you know. Only against (Glasgow Rangers) were favourites before. Every team was (more) favourite than us. So, we are confident, what (ever) journalists or other people say because on the pitch is where you speak, no?," he told reporters on Tuesday (April 18).
    While Arsenal had to battle to overcome struggling West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on Saturday with a full-strength side, Villarreal fielded a virtual shadow team against fellow Champions League semi-finalists Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Friday.
    Coach Manuel Pellegrini left playmaker Argentinian Juan Roman Riquelme, leading striker Diego Forlan (Uuruguay) and influential midfielders Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina) and Alessio Tacchinardi (Italy) out of the squad and kept several other first-choice players on the bench.
    The Chilean coach said Riquelme is as important for his team as Thierry Henry is for Arsenal.
    "I think Riquelme has shown not only on the Champions (League) but also in La Liga all his capacity as a footballer. A player who tilts the game into his team's way and makes the difference like (Thierry) Henry does for Arsenal. They are both irreplaceable. For us what is important is keeping as individual and the way the team works collectively to allow him to use his potential to maximum effect."
    Forlan is hoping to increase his Champions League tally of two goals this season. The Uruguayan striker. Villareal had left Manchester United in last place and eliminated in the group stage. They knocked out Inter Milan in the quarter-finals but all this record would not count against Arsenal.
    "You know, this are (is) a different team, of course. We played well against other teams before but it doesn't matter you know. It is different stage and this is strong team. Ee know it is going to be really difficult to play against them."
    Pellegrini added: "For us the key will be to play better than Arsenal. That doesn't mean we are going to be quicker or slower. We also do not have to think about neutralizing them because this is not our strength anyway. We will have to see who plays faster and touches the ball better. I do not think that only one aspect would be relevant."
    Defeat at the Nou Camp means Villarreal have won only once in seven games and their best chance of playing in next season's Champions League now lies in winning the competition.
    That probably applies to Arsenal too, although the Gunners believe they can still finish as high as fourth in the Premier League and at worst go through to the qualifying stages.
    The Spaniards, known as the "Yellow Submarines" have never been in the Champions League before and are now playing for a place in the semifinal.
    It is first time Arsenal reaches the semi-finals. A place in the final in Paris on May 17 against AC Milan or Barcelona is the tantalising prize for the winners.
    Probable teams:
    Arsenal: 1-Jens Lehmann; 27-Emmanuel Eboue, 28-Kolo Toure, 20-Philippe Senderos, 16-Mathieu Flamini; 8-Fredrik Ljungberg, 13-Alexander Hleb, 19-Gilberto, 15-Francesc Fabregas, 7-Robert Pires; 14-Thierry Henry
    Villarreal: 25-Mariano Barbosa; 17-Javi Venta, 4-Cesar Arzo, 16-Quique Alvarez, 3-Rodolfo Arruabarrena; 12-Juan Pablo Sorin, 19-Marcos Senna, 18-Alessio Tacchinardi, 8-Juan Roman Riquelme; 23-Jose Mari, 5-Diego Forlan
    Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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