Elias Akhomach regains his place at Villarreal and praises his new coach

Elias Akhomach has regained his place in Villarreal's starting lineup after making his first start of the season in a 3-1 win over Málaga, confirming the Moroccan winger's desire to make a strong return to the Spanish team's plans.

Villarreal's victory marked their first in LaLiga this season, as the team had to wait until the match against Málaga to claim the win. However, Echouafni refused to link previous results to any issues within the group, asserting that things had been heading in the right direction since the start of the season, despite the change in the coaching staff.

The Moroccan international stated that judging the team as a failure due to not winning in the early matches is unfair, explaining that the group had been working well and that everyone remained confident in their ability to achieve victory, which was finally realized against Málaga.

Akhomash praised new coach Iñigo Pérez, who took over the team from Marcelino García Toral, describing him as a "top-class coach" as the harmony between him and the players began to show.

The match did not start easily for Villarreal, as Málaga took an early lead with a goal. However, the team managed to turn the score around and achieve victory with three goals to one.

Akhomash believes the players' reaction after conceding the goal reflects the team's character, pointing out that the group did not lose faith in their ability to come back, and continued to execute the game plan until they succeeded in turning things in their favor.

The Moroccan winger highlighted the improvement in Villarreal's performance compared to previous matches, confirming that the team played the match with greater competitive energy, as everyone participated in both defensive and attacking roles. This is the equation he considers essential for achieving victories in LaLiga, regardless of the opponent's identity.

On a personal level, Akhomash talked about the difficulty of participating from the bench, confirming that entering the match as a substitute is not easy for any player. However, he pointed out that the absence of pressure helps him enjoy playing and deliver his best.

Elias was given the chance to start against Málaga, allowing him to showcase his individual duels, which is one of his main strengths. He considers one-on-one and two-on-one situations as some of his most important weapons and does not hesitate to try again even if his initial attempts are unsuccessful.

With his return to the starting lineup, Echouafni hopes that consistency will give him the chance to regain his best form and re-establish his presence in Villarreal's plans for the upcoming phase.