Iñigo Pérez: “We lacked the finishing” after Real Madrid 1-0 Villarreal

Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez assessed the 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid, regretting that his side “lacked the finishing” to turn a match they believed they played well into something more. He left the game with a positive read on what his team did.

He pinpointed the closing stages as the moment the advantage vanished: he felt the goal was near, but the match intensified with the clock and “tension” built up in the atmosphere. For him, that factor made the good work fade away.

Iñigo Pérez also praised the midfield performance, especially Juan Foyth. The Argentine said his presence helped stabilize the center of the pitch and that controlling midfield—both in attack and in defense—limits Real Madrid’s comfort in transitions. Foyth admitted it was costly to break the home side’s pressing, but said he was happy with how the three midfielders handled it, even if they could have caused more damage with the ball.