Chukwueze’s Villarreal Reinstate Coach Calleja Barely Two Months After Sacking

Nigeria winger, Samuel Chukwueze will work under his former coach, Javi Calleja at Spanish side, Villarreal after the latter was reinstated to the position on Tuesday, less than two months after he was sacked by the club, reports Completesports.com.

Calleja was shown the exit door on December 10 2018 with Villarreal 17th in LaLiga, and Luis Garcia Plaza replaced him.

Calleja, a former Villarreal player, led the club to a commendable fifth-place finish last season, before a poor start to the 2018-19 campaign cost him his job.

He returns at a time the Yellow Submarine are even more embroiled in a relegation battle than when he left, as they currently sit in19th position and five points adrift of safety.

The club did not confirm the duration of Calleja’s contract, however club president, Fernando Roig, suggested he will be in place initially until the end of the season.

“Villarreal and I distinguish ourselves by doing the opposite of what many people expect and I assume all the responsibility of the decision,” Roig told reporters at a news conference.

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“It is my decision and I assume the decision until the end of the season.”

Villarreal have won just three matches in 21 games so far in La Liga, with a chronic lack of goals – just 21 to date – keeping them rooted near the bottom of the table above bottom-placed Huesca.

Paradoxically, the Castellon side have given a good account of themselves against La Liga’s big-hitters.

Real Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw when the two sides met at the start of January, with Santi Cazorla’s double ensuring a point for the hosts; while second-placed Atletico were also frustrated and had to settle for a tie.

By Adeboye Amosu