Thomas Partey has expressed his frustration over Villarreal’s failure to convert their chances in Sunday’s La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, which ended in a 2-0 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Ghana international, who rejoined Spanish football this summer after signing for the Yellow Submarine, was handed his first start against his former club, where he spent five successful years.
Despite a bright display from Villarreal, goals from Pablo Barrios in the first half and Nicolas González after the break condemned them to their first loss of the campaign.
Reflecting on the game, Partey admitted the team should have been more clinical.
“I think it was a difficult game for us even though we created good chances to be leading. But this is football—sometimes you don’t take your chances and you get punished. The goal we conceded from a back pass was an error that shouldn’t happen, but we have to learn from it and keep improving,” he told Sporty TV.
The 31-year-old midfielder, however, took positives from the performance, highlighting Villarreal’s pressing and growing cohesion.
“I think with the chances we created and the way we pressed, we should have been more decisive in the final third. The positive thing is that we are starting to understand each other better. I just joined the team, and I think we did a great job overall. Even though we didn’t get the result, we just have to keep working,” he added.
Partey will now return to London in midweek when Villarreal face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League. The Ghanaian brings invaluable experience to the squad, having made 44 appearances in the competition—more than any other player in the current Villarreal team.
