Alex Baena admits Villarreal's players were hit hard by Unai Emery's departure for Aston Villa.

Baena says Emery's move blindsided the players.

He told Mundo Deportivo: "It was a bit weird. Nobody expected it. It was from one afternoon to another.

"Last year I lived it far away and it seemed that the same situation was going to occur that he was going to leave, but in the end no. But it was a professional decision, which everyone may not understand, but those of us who are part of this can understand it.

"Emotionally it left us a bit touched because we already had the work done, from many years together... it was a bit hard to resume everything with a new coach with a new system and a new mentality of the game. But we are a squad that looks like a family and everything is going to be fine.

"We are together with the coach (Quique Setien)."