Villarreal defender says Europa League is club's main priority
Villarreal defender Joan Capdevila says that success in the UEFA Europa League is the club's main goal for the 2010-11 season, despite being just five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
The Yellow Submarines are currently third in the league standings after claiming 27 points from 13 games. That puts them in prime position to maintain a push for the title as well as ensure qualification to the UEFA Champions League for next season.
However, they are trailing in their Europa League group. Villarreal have six points, while Greek side PAOK and Croatian outfit Dinamo Zagreb each have seven points.
They will play Zagreb on Thursday 2 December and last-placed Club Brugge on 15 December, and can ensure their progression to the last 32 of the competition with victory in both games.
Villarreal are hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Atletico Madrid by winning the tournament and 2010 FIFA World Cup winner Capdevila told UEFA's official website: “Villarreal are not a big club yet we try to play football like the big clubs.
I have been here for four years now and the focus in our play is to circulate the ball well, and have lots of possession. We don't really have any star players but the experienced guys have already played very important matches with the (Spain) national team
and with the club in European competitions.
"Maybe nobody really reckons with us, but our objective is to win the Europa League; Atletico Madrid did it last season so why can't we emulate that? To participate in European competition is obviously important, but imagine if we could win such a title.
We would lift Villarreal to the top of European football and that would be the maximum for the club, the city and the players. I'm convinced we can do it."
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