Elche vs Villarreal preview - Soriano warns against complacency

Posted Friday, January 02, 2015 by PA

Villarreal captain Bruno Soriano has warned his team-mates against complacency when they head to Primera Division whipping boys Elche on Saturday.

The Yellow Submarine have the joint-second best form record in the league, having won five and drawn one of their last six games, and are 20 points better off than Elche, who sit bottom of the table and are without a win since 2 November.

"Every game is difficult, we are in the Primera Division and if we relax just a little then any team will be able to beat us," Bruno told the club's official website.

"That's why we need to keep going as we are and take advantage of this great run we are on."

Villarreal's excellent run has taken them to fifth in the table and one point from the Champions League places, and Marcelino's side are also in the last 32 of the Europa League and the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

"I just hope we can keep going at the same pace in 2015," added the midfielder.

"We've always talked about winning a trophy here at Villarreal, which I think would be wonderful for the club. We have to take things step by step and I hope we can go very far in all the competitions we are in.

"We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and that has made it easier for us to get into the position we're in in the league and in the Europa League, a competition we have a lot of hope of doing well in. Little by little we have consolidated ourselves as among the best teams in the league and now our rivals have a lot of respect for us.

"We have shown we have a lot of quality and we have been winning games comfortably and by conceding few goals, which is very important for us."

Villarreal's only fresh absentee ahead of the game is Tomas Pina, who was sent off in the 3-0 win over Deportivo before the Christmas break.

Elche meanwhile have full-back Edu Albacar out through suspension, and Chilean defender Enzo Roco is a doubt as he is yet to return to training since the 2-1 defeat to Malaga before Christmas.

The already beleaguered club were dealt yet another setback over the festive period, with the news that Pedro Mosquera will be out for at least four months following knee surgery.

"It's very bad news because our squad is already small," said midfielder Aaron Niguez, quoted in Marca.

"But between the players that are here already and our reserve side, we can get out of this situation."