Unai Emery has conceded that his Villarreal side may not still carry a “surprise factor” ahead of the club’s Champions League semi-final with Liverpool.
The Spanish club have made an unlikely charge in this season’s competition, having overcome both Juventus and Bayern Munich in previous rounds. Former Arsenal manager Emery is aware that part of his side’s success has been through their more high-profile opponents somewhat overlooking his side.
However, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already claimed that will not be the case when the two teams meet at Anfield on Wednesday night. While Emery has admitted that the mystique around his side has disappeared, now that the Yellow Submarine are just two games away from a European Cup final.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp gives Roberto Firmino injury update after Liverpool absence
HAVE YOUR SAY: Pick your Liverpool team ahead of Champions League semi-final vs Villarreal
“The surprise factor goes down. The first tie against Juventus the surprise factor was maybe more important,” the Villarreal boss said . “Against Bayern it was important, because we managed to find our own performance and we could use our weapons against another powerful rival.
“That’s not present any more but every team who is in the semi-final deserves it, we know they will respect us. We have been able to compete against big teams like Juve and Bayern, so they know it will be a tough game and will have to be 100 percent and give it all at Anfield.”
Villarreal enjoyed European success last season when the club lifted the Europa League; while the club also reached the semi-final stage of the Champions League , back in 2006. However, having experienced three defeats at Anfield in his time as Arsenal boss, Emery believes Liverpool will provide the toughest challenge that his side have faced to date.
“Of course they will feel favourites as that is natural. It is an even higher difficulty than Juventus and Bayern Munich,” Emery continued.
“What I see gives me huge motivation to try to play the perfect game in order to beat the best Liverpool. They have built a Liverpool team like their coach, with that smile, that energy. We will try to surf the wave of experience we started accumulating last season.”
