The departure of Marcelino García from Villarreal has left a footballing legacy that has propelled the 'groguet' team to consecutive Champions League qualifications and record-breaking figures, particularly in the last season. Given this, the concern among some fans about a potential loss of competitiveness and playing style, which has led the team to achievements like third place in the league, is understandable.
However, there are reasons for optimism. Iñigo Pérez himself expressed during his presentation press conference his intention to continue "a foundation consolidated over several years" and to "preserve the work done by Marcelino." His recent season with Rayo Vallecano, where he led the team to their first European final and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Conference League again, serves as a strong endorsement.
Under his guidance, Rayo was the fourth-best defense in LaLiga EA Sports. Pérez's implemented playing style includes a 4-2-3-1 system in attack and a 4-4-2 in defense. While the attacking midfielder/interior role he has developed might raise some questions, his shared priority with Marcelino is verticality.
Both Marcelino and Pérez prioritize attacking verticality, avoiding excessive possession to focus on reaching the opponent's box quickly. Villarreal has even demonstrated the ability to cede possession and capitalize on errors in rapid transitions. Pérez, on the other hand, seeks ball circulation towards the full-backs' involvement in the attacking phase to gain depth.
In defensive work, the new 'groguet' coach opts for intense high-pressing, requiring significant player solidarity, a contrast to the previous team's more compact midfield-to-own-box defense. Furthermore, like Marcelino, Pérez favors keeping the maximum number of players active through rotations.
Therefore, coupled with Iñigo Pérez's interest in understanding the players and integrating into the club's ecosystem, there are reasons to believe that Villarreal will develop a playing style similar to that of recent seasons.
