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Pau Torres

(Villarreal, 1997) was an 11-year-old boy the first time the yellow team played in the Champions League semifinals.

That game against Arsenal (2006) and the missed penalty by

that prevented extra time from being forced after the 1-0 first leg was seen by the central defender in the stands of the stadium, which at that time was still called El Madrigal.

An experience that he will be able to repeat this Tuesday, but dressed in shorts and on the pitch, in what is the second semifinal played by the Castellón team.

's team

is just one step away from making history and qualifying for the Champions League final for the first time, although to do so they will have to come back from 2-0 at Anfield last week.

«There is no ideal script to trace back.

It does not matter how it is achieved, if it is with a goal in the first minute or in the 60th. We are aware that a goal at any moment of the game puts us squarely in the tie.

We expect a long game, we are calm and we know what to do, "said the footballer in the pre-match appearance.

Experiencing matches like tonight's is the reason why Pau decided to continue at Villarreal last summer, despite the fact that he had offers to have a change of scenery.

The central defender had just signed a great season with Villarreal, with whom he was proclaimed champion of the Europa League against United.

To this we must add his weight in the national team, in which he is a fixture in

's calls and with which he played all the matches of the European Championship last year, reaching the semifinals.

The performance and potential of a footballer who turned 25 at the beginning of the year have not gone unnoticed by the main clubs.

Real Madrid and United had shown interest in the centre-back, but it was Tottenham who went one step further and sent Villarreal an offer of 55 million euros last summer.

The club chaired by

did not even have to bother to study it because Pau himself dismissed it.

«They offered me more than what I charge now, but I play in my town's team, something that few players can do.

We are going to play the Champions League and that was my dream this year, so I decided to stay where I am happy, "explained the defender in his day to explain the reasons why he rejected the offer from Spurs, and on which he insists now: "I'm going to play a Champions League semi-final with the team from my town, so nothing matters more to me."

65 million clause

With a contract until 2024 and a termination clause that amounted to 65 million euros after his debut with the national team, Pau is living his dream to the fullest.

At the moment he has already equaled Villarreal's best participation in the Champions League and is only 90 minutes away from being able to make history with his hometown team, something that is not within the reach of many.

Getting it will force the yellow team to a feat such as lifting a 2-0 to a Liverpool, which confirmed in the first leg what it had already been pointing out throughout the competition: that it is one of the great favorites to win what would be its seventh Cup of Europe.

's team

was full of victories in the group stage and his only defeat in the tournament was a 0-1 against Inter that did not prevent him from advancing to the quarterfinals.

Away from Anfield he has been even more fearsome, winning all his games and scoring no less than two goals against Porto, Atlético, Milan, Inter and Benfica.

"Liverpool did not surprise us.

We had prepared the game very well and we knew what they were playing at, although it is true that they managed to deactivate our attack.

They were favorites in their stadium and now we play at home.

We have our plan, we know what to do from the start and the people on our side.

We have seen this season a very strong Villarreal at home, we are aware of what is at stake and what we have to do, "says Pau.

To seek the comeback, Emery hopes to have

, absent at Anfield.

On the other hand, it does not seem that

will be there , which is doubtful, while

will not be in the return either.

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