Villarreal defender Juan Foyth has shared his thoughts ahead of his team’s upcoming clash against Real Madrid, expressing his enthusiasm for facing top-level opponents, particularly Vinicius Jr.
When asked about his views on Real Madrid, Foyth acknowledged their incredible competitiveness and high-intensity playing style.
He pointed out that he recently watched their match against Atlético Madrid and was impressed by how they maintained their performance levels despite playing 120 minutes.
“I saw them in the match against Atletico, and as always, they competed at a very high level. They’re fast-paced players.
“They’re players accustomed to a very high competitive rhythm. Despite those 120 minutes, they’re used to playing three times a week and will be fine,” he told AS.
Facing Vinicius Jr.
Juan Foyth loves facing Vinicius Jr. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
One of the key aspects of the match will be Foyth’s potential duels with Vinicius Jr. The defender recalled his past battles with the Brazilian forward, describing them as enjoyable encounters.
“My duels with Vinicius were beautiful. I say “were” because I can’t remember the last time we faced each other. But they were indeed matches in which I enjoyed competing with a player like him.”
Foyth observed that the Real Madrid winger is continuously improving, becoming even faster and more dangerous with each game.
Despite the challenges of defending against him, the Villarreal defender sees these matchups as an exciting part of football.
“The truth is, I see him getting a little faster every day, and he seems more dangerous every time. But these duels and these matches are a lot of fun.
“We know we’re going to struggle on the pitch since they’re all top-level players, but I think we should enjoy playing against these players and these opponents.”
Facing Mbappe
Foyth is ready to face Mbappe. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
With the possibility of also facing Kylian Mbappe, Foyth recognised the level of talent he will be up against. He described both Vinicius and Mbappe as players who are almost unstoppable due to their speed and skill.
“Both Vinicius and Mbappé are flying. As I said, it’s a special and very enjoyable match for me.
“I watched them play in the Champions League the other day and thought how wonderful it is to be able to play against those teams, against those players, in those games.”
While he is aware that dealing with Vinicius or Mbappe will not be easy, Foyth remains focused on making the most of the experience.
He expects to struggle at times but believes that playing against world-class players is what makes football exciting.
“It’s something I enjoy. I’m going to enjoy the match too. I know I might be struggling a lot with Vinicius or Mbappe, but I’m going to enjoy it just the same,” he added.