MADRID • There were repeated calls from supporters for Valencia coach Marcelino to be sacked when the Spanish LaLiga club were languishing in 12th position last December. Look who's having the last laugh now?
The 53-year-old Spaniard was feted by the travelling fans after the final whistle at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Saturday as Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by beating Real Valladolid 2-0 in their final match of the season.
Valencia, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, clinched fourth place with 61 points, two ahead of Getafe, who drew 2-2 at home to Villarreal. Marcelino's side had to win to make sure of fourth spot and goals from Carlos Soler and Rodrigo guaranteed that.
Club president Anil Murthy told the Straits Times in a phone interview: "In the last five years since Peter bought the club, we've been in the Champions League three times and qualifying two times in a row is quite a feat.
"This year, we made history in the Spanish league. No team has come from such a difficult first half (of the season) to climb back up all the way to reach the fourth spot."
"It has been a very difficult year with a lot of demanding games," added captain Daniel Parejo. "We didn't make the best start but, by working hard, we've managed to turn things around."
Valencia will be looking to finish the season on a high when they face LaLiga champions Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville on Saturday.
QUICK REBOUND
This year, we made history in the Spanish league. No team has come from such a difficult first half (of the season) to climb back up all the way to reach the fourth spot.
'' ANIL MURTHY, club president, on Valencia working hard and turning things around after making a wretched start this season.
Qualifying for the Champions League and reaching the Copa del Rey final had seemed like a distant dream early on in the season when they won only one of their first 11 league matches.
The rebellion against Marcelino began during a 1-1 draw in December with Sevilla when angry fans waved handkerchiefs, the traditional signal of dissatisfaction in Spanish stadiums.
The protests reached boiling point during a game against then basement club Huesca later that month and not even a last-gasp winning goal could quell the anger, as fans continued to furiously boo the team and their coach after the final whistle.
After a limp defeat by Alaves in January, reports were rife that Marcelino would be sacked by Valencia, but he was helped by public support from his players and clung on to his job.
In the space of four months, Marcelino has gone from persona non grata to becoming the first Valencia coach to secure successive top-four finishes since Unai Emery in 2012.
They also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League before losing to Arsenal 7-3 on aggregate.
Murthy said: "It's a mixture of factors (for the turnaround).
"What happened in the first half (of the season) was that our defence was good, but we weren't scoring enough goals so we had to change our strike force.
"(Michy) Batshuayi went to Crystal Palace and we brought in a couple of players. The big difference in the second half was that we started scoring more goals and chalked up 38 points compared with 23 in the first (half of the season).
"And, while most people expected us to change our coach, we chose stability and decided to support Marcelino."
And Murthy hinted that Marcelino will stay on at the Mestalla, saying: "He has proven himself in the two years as our coach.
"In football, results matter the most and he has delivered results."
Asked about the club's plans for next season, the former diplomat said the club's focus is solely on the "huge" Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
"The first objective is to beat Barcelona on Saturday," he said.
"Now that we're in the Champions League, we will refine the team with players who can compete with the best in Europe.
"This year, we beat Manchester United (2-1 in Valencia) in the Champions League. I don't mind getting Liverpool in our group next year."
REUTERS
- Additional reporting by Xener Gill
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted Neymar is unlikely to be fit in time for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United next month. "It's
'Super difficult' for Neymar to be fit to face Man Utd, says
The Pakistan national under-17 football team is the under-17 football (soccer) team of Pakistan. The team has participated in the AFC U-16 Championship once in 2002 and has also participated in the SAFF U-16 Championship in 2011 and 2013, but withdrew in 2015 and did not enter in 2017. Pakistan national under-20 football team
History - db0nus869y26v.cloudfront.net
Football News -The challenge is different for Liverpool. New favourites Liverpool face two stiff tests of title credentials have the burden of being branded favourites in an English
Latest JURGEN KLOPP | The Straits Times
Double Injury Blow For Spurs Ahead Of EPL Clash With Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur will be without Eric Dier and Serge Aurier for Sunday's English Premier League (EPL) trip to Liverpool, manager
Double injury blow for Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Liverpool
Football: Warriors banned from hiring foreign personnel
MANCHESTER: Manchester City will play a pre-season match in Japan for the first time when they take on J League side Yokohama F. Marinos on July 27, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday. City Football Group (CFG) own a majority stake in City and a minority stake in the Marinos, and the two teams will play in the inaugural EuroJapan Cup.
Manchester City to play pre-season match in Japan
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equals long-standing record as Manchester United beat Newcastle. Solskjaer has enjoyed a perfect start to his career as manager, steering United back into top four
Premier League: Newcastle United 0 Manchester United 2 | Goal.com
Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews in Cup replays a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier Shrewsbury Town in FA Cup third-round replays on chance to put Blackburn ahead
Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews in Cup
Man City set to be hit with transfer ban for two windows within days. Fifa are poised to confirm the Etihad outfit are the next club to be found guilty of breaching rules on the transfers of minors.
Man City face FIFA transfer ban: report - msn.com
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku must both take their opportunity to "They've been part of our training for a long time now
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United
Atletico 'the greatest threat to Barca's La Liga hopes' Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted he views Atletico Madrid as a greater threat to his side winning La Liga this season than
Atletico the greatest threat to Barca's La Liga hopes - Valverde
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/01/26/atletico-the-greatest-threat-to-barcas-la-liga-hopes-valverde/
Atletico the greatest threat to Barca's La Liga hopes - Valverde AFP January 26, 2019 AFP No Comments Barcelona (AFP) - Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted he views Atletico Madrid as a greater threat to his side winning La Liga this season than Real Madrid.
Atletico the greatest threat to Barca's La Liga hopes - Valverde
adtest.supersport.com/football/spain/news/190126/Atletico_the_greatest_threat_to_Barcas_La_Liga_hopes_Valverde
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted he views Atletico Madrid as a greater threat to his side winning La Liga this season than Real Madrid.
Atletico the greatest threat to Barca's La Liga hopes - Valverde
David de Gea has made three errors leading to goals in his last four games in all competitions for Manchester United, as many as in his previous 123 matches for the club As Manchester United lined up the injury-time corner that ended with Pedro clearing Marcos Rojo's header off the line, David de Gea stood […]
David de Gea: Manchester United keeper gives Ole Gunnar
BARCELONA — Lionel Messi put Barcelona on the verge of the Champions League final with a devastating double in a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of their last-four clash on Wednesday, taking his goal tally for the Catalans to 600. The Argentine's milestone goal was a moment of
Messi torments Liverpool with 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win
Neymar walked off in tears after landing awkwardly on his ankle against Strasbourg. Paris St-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel says it will be "super difficult" for Neymar to be fit for their Champions
PSG news: 'Super difficult' for Neymar to face Man Utd, says
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar