Santi Cazorla: Why keeping Villarreal in LaLiga would be the ex-Arsenal star’s biggest achievement
Two FA Cups, two European Championships and two Community Shields: for most footballers that would be considered an excellent return of trophies, but for someone of Santi Cazorlas supreme talent it still somehow feels lacking.Lacking the league title or European club honour that a player of the Asturians exceptional ability deserves. Lacking too is the World Cup medal that as an important member of the greatest Spanish generation of all time, he would surely have claimed, were it not for an awfully timed back injury that disrupted his 2010.
3Santi Cazorla celebrates scoring for Villarreal.Cazorla could ultimately do nothing about those issues in the build-up to South Africa 2010. Just as he could do nothing about Real Madrid failing to put the final stamp on his transfer in 2008. The Spanish giants move to sign him from Villarreal that summer was so close to being completed that a nervous Cazorla was even caught on camera talking about it over the phone to Iker Casillas. Treat me well there, eh? Support me a bit because Im the new guy the unassuming midfielder asked his international team-mate.Madrid inexplicably hesitated at the final hurdle long enough for Cazorla to reconsider, and he ultimately signed a new contract with humble Villarreal. In doing so he furthered his legend as a cult player, but at the same time signed away silverware. Had fate instead brought him to the Bernabu his honours list would surely be far longer than it is today.Watching Cazorlas performances in the present, despite going through a near career-ending injury nightmare, he still looks like the class of footballer who could do a job for one of Europes giants. At 34, he wouldnt start regularly at Barcelona or Madrid, but at teams where there is room for Arturo Vidal or Dani Ceballos, the magician from northern Spain could surely play a squad role. No disrespect intended towards the aforementioned duo, but ask yourself how often you would pick them ahead of a fully-fit, inspired Cazorla.And thats the thing: Cazorla has long since proved his physical conditioning is back up to scratch. The 90 minutes played against Atltico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday was his ninth LaLiga start in a row for Villarreal. He isnt a romantic, nostalgic pick based on the good times of years gone by for coach Javi Calleja. Hes the first name on the team sheet for a side that is in a desperate situation, and place much of their hopes of survival in the genius their playmaker possesses. If Cazorla can somehow keep this Villarreal up it may be a bigger achievement than any trophy he could have lifted elsewhere. The Yellow Submarine are having a dreadful season, set to spend another week in the relegation zone following a 2-0 defeat to Atleti. Once a source of constant frustration for Diego Simeone until last weekend Villarreal were undefeated in seven league games against El Cholos Atleti on Sunday they were deserved losers.For half of the game Callejas team defended with eight and attacked with only two, a degree of tactical simplicity that suited the well-drilled home team. When Cazorla was positioned to play the first ball, the options in front of him tended to be limited, one or two runners at the most. When the playmaker was further up the pitch where he can truly cause damage, there was rarely any quality around him. Conservative, often disjointed and lacking creative quality, at times it looked like Villarreal would have needed two Cazorlas rather than one to win against the Colchoneros.
3Cazorla in action against Atletico Madrid this season.When Cazorla did manage to get on the ball there was always an Atleti player pursuing him a sign of the respect with which Simeone still considers him. Even then, the veteran managed to complete 83 percent of his passes, a still immaculate first touch taking him away from pressure, and a still ice-cool head allowing him to calmly deliver the ball to a team-mate in good condition, as the Spanish say. In other words, the kind of pass that puts the ball just in front of the man and gives him a better chance of doing something useful with it.Not that those chances to do something useful were taken. Despite switching possession from one flank to the other, or popping the ball off then driving forward in an attempt to change the pace of play, Cazorlas team-mates rarely showed the same speed of thought. In the occasions where the move did result in a chance often coming from a set-piece delivered off Cazorlas boot Jan Oblak was always capable of dealing with the sluggish attempts to finish.
3Cazorla celebrates scoring against Real Madrid.In a season where Villarreal have sacked their coach, replaced him for just over a month, then sacked the replacement and brought the original boss back, it is hardly surprising that they look confused. The brief, three game unbeaten bounce in the league sparked with Callejas return is over, and the hardest phase is only just beginning.Thirteen games remain for Cazorla to salvage a ship that has no obvious course, and is perilously close to sinking. For his unparalleled vision on the pitch to somehow give Villarreal enough clarity to avoid a repeat of their traumatic relegation in 2012. He wasnt at the club to stop the nightmare back then. If he can do it now, they may as well give him a medal.
Inside-forward Aarons had some defending to do in the 52nd minute, intercepting a vicious shot from Braithwaite. Rose beat Vestergaard to the interception, only to awkwardly knock the ball out for a Denmark throw-in. It soon became obvious why, as the Tottenham left-back went down signalling that something was wrong with his knee.
An Impossible Man - Page 5 - FM Stories - Sports Interactive
Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfer advice for Gameweek 34, including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham stars Friday, 12 April 2019 The fixtures are coming thick and fast in the Fantasy Premier League so you need to get your squad in shape.
Fantasy Premier League tips: Transfer advice fo | SportSpyder
Maurizio Sarri has reportedly reached an agreement to leave Chelsea and manage Juventus next season. It's claimed that the Italian boss, who has been at Stamford Bridge for just one year, will
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola - dailymail.co.uk
Former Manchester United and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho took aim at old rival Jurgen Klopp for the way his… Chelsea FC
England vs Nigeria RESULT: World Cup friendly score updates
Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey says Virgil van Dijk is the club's first leader since Jamie Carragher. Van Dijk became the world's most expensive defender after joining the Reds in a £75million deal from Southampton in January 2018.
Emile Heskey: Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's first leader
Just a few minutes after being hired as Leicester's manager, Brendan Rodgers took a seat in the stands at King Power Stadium to have a first good look at his new team and witnessed a 2-1 win.
Leicester 2-1 Brighton, RESULT: Plus the Premier League
For the latest news on Liverpool FC, including scores, fixtures, results, form guide & league position, visit the official website of the Premier League.
Premier League 2018/19: How the table would look based on
Premier League transfer news and rumours Juve plan Dybala swap deal for Salah. Italian champions Juventus are reportedly prepared to offer Paulo Dybala plus £43.9m to Liverpool for striker
David De Gea has reportedly been told to sign his new Manchester United contract by the end of the calendar year as he approaches the expiration of his deal, with suitors said to be circling
Manchester United trigger David de Gea's one-year contract
Jack Butland has paid tribute to England's World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. Stoke legend Banks is regarded as the country's greatest ever keeper and widely remembered for the gravity-defying save which denied Pele at the 1970 World Cup.
Gordon Banks funeral: Fans and mourners pay tribute - bbc.com
Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez is wanted by La Liga side Real Betis, according to reports in Spain, as cited on Football Espana. The 25-year-old has previously played in the Segunda Division with CD Tenerife, where he was named the league's 2013-14 'Best Attacking Midfielder'.
Newcastle reveal transfer target to replace Italy bound Ayoze
~ Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino picks his combined team for Manchester United's treble-winners from 1999 and Manchester City's current day heroes ~ Kenya Latest
Australian FourFourTwo September 2017 FreeMags.cc
Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp hails Reds development in Europe ahead of Porto clash The Anfield chief has reached two European finals with Liverpool but has lost both of them By talkSPORT
Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp hails Reds development in Europe
Jose Mourinho sacked: England manager Gareth Southgate should
0 Comments