Getafe vs Villarreal preview - Euro chance spurs Pina

Posted Thursday, March 27, 2014 by PA

Villarreal midfielder Tomas Pina has admitted his team need a change in fortune as they seek to arrest a slide which is threatening their European ambitions.

The Yellow Submarine are seventh in the Primera Division as they prepare to travel to Getafe, still five points clear of eight-placed Espanyol, but they are without a win in their last four league outings and their mediocre form since late January has been the cause of increasing concern.

"There are still many games to play and we have a chance to recover from this slump," Pina said.

"In every season you have high points and low points. When your fitness is optimal you have the high points, and if not then the low.

"We must get out of this situation and try to have the season we want. This team should be in Europe and we want to achieve it.

"We're still seventh despite the slump we have suffered. If we can get a win that would change everything and give us enough confidence to fight for the top spots."

The next chance for that win comes away to a Getafe side third bottom of the table and desperately fighting for survival.

Getafe coach Cosmin Contra, in only his second week on the job, is still trying to restore the confidence of his players and get them to believe in what they are doing - a cause he hopes was helped by the positives from a 1-0 defeat at the hands of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

"I can insist on certain tactics and physical preparations, but what I cannot do is get inside their heads," he said. "But they are less blocked then when I arrived.

"We are still afraid of having the ball at our feet and that makes things difficult, but a win would change a lot of things."