Villarreal coach Javi Calleja faced the cameras shortly after his side's 2-0 loss to Barcelona at the Camp Nou and reserved special praise for teenage Nigeria international Samuel Chukwueze.

While Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé created the most problems for Villarreal, the Azulgranas failed to keep the tricky Chukwueze under wraps for most part of the game.

''Dembélé today has been very difficult to stop. He is a player who has huge qualities. We came to the Camp Nou to win,'' Calleja said at the post-match press conference.

''We've competed very well. We can't lower our heads. We are very happy with the work done.''

On Chukwueze, Javi Calleja said : ''Samu (Chukwueze) had a great match. He is growing. He is a more and more important player. He is young and confident, he'll end up learning a lot.''

Javi Calleja set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Chukwueze operating from the right flank.

The Diamond Academy product is already putting himself in the shop window and will cost interested clubs 30 million euros, the release clause inserted into his contract in the summer.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel