Villarreal head coach Marcelino Garcia Toral publicly questioned Thomas Partey’s fitness and competitive impact following the midfielder’s half-time substitution during a 3-0 Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen.
Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral issued a blunt assessment of Thomas Partey after the Spanish side’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite being already eliminated, Villarreal struggled as Partey was hooked at half-time. Marcelino expressed frustration over the Ghanaian’s decline since his summer move, suggesting the midfielder has failed to adapt to the intensity of the modern game.
The coach was particularly vocal about the discrepancy in Partey’s current output compared to his Premier League tenure.
“There is a world of difference between the Thomas we knew at Arsenal and this one. A world of difference,” Marcelino stated.
He added, “It’s very difficult to play at this pace in today’s football. Six months is enough time for a player to show what he is capable of.”