Are Villarreal using Rangers flops Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena to get their intel?
Apparently so, according to Mexican midfielder Miguel Layun. The Villarreal star is looking forward to his side’s meeting with the Gers on Thursday night. He has already spoken of how wary he is about Rangers’ physical presence.
Yet, Layun has stated he doesn’t need to do much research on his Scottish opposition ahead of Thursday night. He believes he has a couple of former Rangers players on standby for that.
Speaking last night ahead of the meeting at El Madrigal, Layun had the following to say about Rangers:
“I know Rangers had a couple of Mexican players in their team – Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena.
“So this week I will phone them and ask about the team. They will be able to tell me about what the club is like even though they have changed a few players recently.
“All our focus is on this because it is important we get off to a good start. If we get good results in the Europa League it will hopefully benefit our league form as well.”
An ill-advised plan?
Layun has perhaps been ill-advised if he feels contacting his countrymen will do him any good. The reason being that Rangers are now a totally different team than the one Pena and Herrera struggled to get into.
The same weaknesses that the duo could point to aren’t there anymore. Where Rangers were a huge weak spot at the back last season, it’s their strongest aspect this term.
Rangers fans don’t have fond memories of either of the Mexican duo either.
Pena cost the club a fortune in wages before heading out on loan to Necaxa this season. The midfielder has struggled with alcohol-relates incidents over the last year, and checked out of rehab in the summer. Thankfully, he now appears to have gotten his life and career back on track, but his knowledge of Rangers will be limited.
Herrera is another of the Pedro Caixinha flops who made absolutely no impact last season. He has since left the club on loan to go to Santos Laguna this term, where he’s failed to make an appearance.
The main aspect is that the duo won’t know any more than what Villarreal already know. Rangers are a tough nut to crack this season, and will fancy their chances of putting on a good performance in Spain.
