Ike Uche: My aim is always to improve

Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche cannot wait for the start of the new season in Spain.

Uche, who finished last campaign as the club’s leading scorer in La Liga with 14 goals in 30 games, is keen on improving his tally in the upcoming season, but will take each game has it comes.

“Personally speaking, my aim is always to improve and that’s what I have in mind this season,” Uche told Inside Spanish Football.

“I can’t think too much about it though. What I want to do is take things one day at a time and see how things go for me.”

The 2014-2015 season will be a demanding one for the team. After finishing sixth last season, Villarreal will be looking to improve and possibly wrest the title from the two Madrid teams and Barcelona. There is also the matter of the Copa del Rey and Europa League. But Uche is well aware of the task before him and his teammates.

“We’re working hard and well. It’s only pre-season right now, but we must be stronger and better prepared, given the Europa League qualifying tie is coming soon and it’s very important we get through that.

“It’s going to be a very demanding season. We’re playing in more competitions like the Europa League and for that reason we have to take things steadily. It’s not going to be easy, so we’ll have to take things one game at a time.”

More goal-scoring responsibilities lie on the shoulders of Uche after forwards Perbet and Pereira left the club at the end of last season. But with the purchase of talented youngster Luciano Vietto from Racing Club, Uche believes the changes are good for the team.

“There have been some variations and it’s natural for a team to change a few things, from one season to the next. Some good team-mates have left, who were doing well and there’s been the arrival of Vietto, who is young, keen and a very good player. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s a lad who is keen to grow, which is good for the team. The level of competition in the squad is good and that’s also good for all of us.”

“Players who brought a great deal have left and we’ll miss them, of course, but on the other hand the club is trying to sign players to improve the team. I believe we have good players arriving that will help us a lot.”

Villarreal will face Levante at the Estadio Cuidad de Valencia in the season’s opener on August 24, 2014.