Angulo previews important Youth League encounter

Miguel Ángel Angulo, coach of Valencia CF's Juvenil A side, spoke to VCF Media before his team travelled to Lille on Tuesday, giving his thoughts on the UEFA Youth League encounter.

"We know that there is a lot at stake for our future in the competition. A win would lift us up the standings and face the rest of the opening stage with a lot of optimism," he explained.

"We are aware that the next two games against the French side -especially this Wednesday- are going to decide whether we are candidates in this competition."

The Group H game kicks off at 2pm local time, with Ajax taking on Chelsea in Amsterdam on the other side of the group.

“We're in good shape and excited about being competitive against a Lille side who are physically strong and boosted by winning at home to Chelsea last time out," said Angulo. "They also know that the next two games will decide our fate in the competition. We have to go out there like we did against Chelsea and fight for every ball as if it were the last."

The coach is without internationals Jordi Escobar and Joseda Menargues for the trip to Lille, as they represent Spain in the Under-17s World Cup in Brazil. The squad consists of Joaquín Blázquez, Carlos Manuel Pérez, Xavi Estacio, José Pascual Alba ‘Pascu’, Hugo Guillamón, Guillem Molina, Brais Val, Jesús Vázquez, David Ruiz, Musah Yunus, Koba Lein, Hugo González, Pedro Alemany, Pablo Gozálbez, Noha Ndombasi, José Contell, Ferran Giner, Jairo Quinteros, Gastón Kappes and Julio Insa.

The VCF Juvenil squad trained on Tuesday at the Ciudad Deportiva, before travelling to Lille.