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Rio Ferdinand wonders whether it was a “conscious decision from Unai Emery” as Villarreal changed their approach in the second half against Liverpool on Tuesday night.
The Spanish outfit had the Reds on the ropes at half-time with Emery’s men heading into the break 2-0 up on the night and level at 2-2 on aggregate.
However, second-half goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane killed off Villarreal with the Spanish side lacking the same energy they had demonstrated in the first half.
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And former Manchester United defender Ferdinand was left questioning whether Emery told his side to take a breather in the second half.
“That was an opportunity missed for Villarreal. Congratulations to Liverpool, deserved winners in the end. They were on the ropes but they were allowed to get themselves back together at half-time,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“Villarreal took their foot off the pedal, all their great work pressurising Liverpool, pinning them back, not giving them any time, but in the second half they played exactly how they played in the first leg and got demolished.
“I don’t know how they let them off, was it a conscious decision from Unai Emery? Did they make sure they had a breather? It killed them. Liverpool smelt blood and fair play to them they demolished this Villarreal team