Santi Cazorla: Why keeping Villarreal in LaLiga would be the ex-Arsenal star’s biggest achievement

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 2010.3

Santi 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.3

Cazorla 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.3

Cazorla 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.

---

The best players to never win the Champions League including Buffon, Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo emergence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He was the top scorer in three out of four seasons
Great Players Who Never Won The Champions League Buffon

---

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is unconcerned by the size of his squad, after failing to sign any new players during the transfer window. Wanderers were linked with several strikers in January.
Chelsea's Tammy Abraham rejects Wolves loan offer and will

---

Premier League table: How the top-flight could change this weekend by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 3 May Two games to go in the Premier League, two teams in the title race, and two places left in the top four. There is plenty riding on fixtures across the division this weekend with clubs able to leapf…
Premier League Power Ranking - Tough Call for Matchday 29

---

50 murder charges Christchurch mosque attacks News World News. Christchurch accused to face 50 murder charges. April 5, 2019. sa411.

---

Transfer news: Starsport brings you all the latest football gossip (Pic: GETTY) Chelsea concern. Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen is unlikely to leave the club next month despite being unhappy at the club but the Blues should be worried about his reported unhappiness at the club. That is the opinion of Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth.
Chelsea transfer ban leaves fringe players trapped as Andreas

---

Paul Pogba's potential move from Manchester United to Real Madrid could prove complicated by the Frenchman's wage demands, according to AS. With Pogba reportedly earning upwards of €15m a year
Man Utd star Paul Pogba's talks with Real Madrid 'stall over

---

Huddersfield investigate allegations of homophobic abuse directed against Brighton fans Huddersfield have launched an investigation into reports of homophobic abuse during Saturday's home defeat
Huddersfield investigate homophobic abuse allegations

---

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is reportedly on his way out of Anfield, as several MLS sides have registered their interest in the England international. The 29-year-old's contract with the
Daniel Sturridge braced for contract offers as striker nears

---

I'm A Celeb: Viewers rally to get Harry Redknapp's rendition of My Way to Christmas number one as he dances up a storm during hilarious karaoke
I'm A Celebrity: Harry Redknapp set to 'receive £500k

---

Manchester United transfers: A possible line-up with Ivan

---

Fikayo Tomori beats Mason Mount to Derby's Supporters' Player

---

Lucas Perez's West Ham injury update & why everyone is loving midfielder Robert Snodgrass after Saturday's win over Crystal Palace. boot and foot after the Palace game. his first Premier
West Ham's Lucas Perez shares grisly foot injury from Crystal

---

football live streaming espn
big boss t20 premier league live streaming
jordan premier league live stream
manchester city vs liverpool champions league live streaming
uefa champions league live streaming reddit
champions league live stream unblocked
ofc champions league live streaming
champions league quarter final draw live free streaming
real madrid vs liverpool final champions league live streaming
best site for streaming live premier league football
champions league live streaming crichd
real madrid champions league live streaming free
caf champions league live streaming free
champions league live streaming youtube
champions league live streaming ronaldo
champions league live streaming barcelona vs liverpool
champions league live stream psg vs real madrid
indo international premier kabaddi league live streaming
champions league live stream kostenlos heute zdf
uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
best live streaming premier league
champions league draw live stream eurosport
liverpool champions league live streaming
draw champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
uefa champions league semi final draw live streaming
where to watch champions league live streaming
liverpool vs bayern champions league live streaming
live streaming champions league yalla shoot
final champions league live streaming
english premier league live streaming espn
premier league live streaming indonesia
champions league madrid vs liverpool live streaming
champions league live streaming roma vs liverpool
real madrid vs liverpool champions league live streaming
celtic champions league live streaming
champions league live streaming blogspot
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
champions league live stream guardian
fox sports uefa champions league live streaming
juventus vs manchester united champions league live streaming
uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
champions league live streaming free justin tv
football live streaming free best sites
football live streaming barcelona vs manchester united
premier league live stream australia
live streaming arsenal vs psg champions league
premier volleyball league live streaming youtube
champions league final live streaming hd
football live streaming championship
watch english premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online
juventus champions league live streaming
premier league darts live stream reddit
champions league final live streaming youtube
football live streaming brazil
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
sri lanka premier league live streaming
champions league quarter finals draw live streaming
champions league live streaming greece
football live streaming free quora
football live streaming hunter
absa premier league live streaming
barcelona psg champions league live streaming
live streaming of champions league draw
premier league live streaming usa
football live streaming sites in uae
premier league live stream man city
champions league live streaming in mobile
inter vs tottenham champions league live streaming
football live streaming free uk
champions league 2018 streaming live gratuit
dhangadhi premier league live streaming 2019
football live streaming el clasico
football live streaming barcelona vs liverpool
caribbean premier league live streaming
champions league live stream juventus vs barcelona
karnataka premier league live streaming free
real madrid vs juventus champions league live streaming
sri lanka premier league 2018 live streaming
match premier league live streaming
free live premier league football streaming online
real madrid vs juventus champions league final live streaming
premier league live stream sky
dhangadhi premier league live streaming
premier league live streaming totalsportek
paok aek champions league live streaming
premier league live stream vipbox
epl live streaming hd free
afghanistan premier league live streaming channel name
live streaming video football russia - premier league
abu dhabi premier league live streaming
live football streaming hd app
premier league live streaming xfinity
#likes4likes #Barcelona #Football #juventus #amsterdam #ajax #fcbarcelona #degea #pickering #Cr7 #championsleague #tottenham #footballmemes #fifa #liverpool #meme #manchestercity #telemundodeportes #footy #messi #Bale #sports #salah #ronaldo #amrabat #pogba #Ronaldo #espndeportes #manchester #toronto #futbolmexicano #Casillas #football #sanchez #realmadrid #goals #ajaxamsterdam #oshawa #durhamregion #foxdeportes #skysports #europaleague #UCL #realmadrid #likeforlikes #manchesterunited #hakimziyech #Ronaldo #england #laliga #Instagood #news #Futbol #ChampionsLeague #foxsports #halamadrid #nike #Neymar #manutd #BayernMunchen #premierleague #courtois #barcelona #bundesliga #Ajax #433 #navas #deporte #Messi #soccer #zinedinezidane #beinsportsusa #Like4Like #Chelsea #Cristiano #beinsports #Mancity #likeforlike #CristianoRonaldo #LeoMessi #RealMadrid #Rooney