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Valencia in crisis as Barcelona and Chelsea clashes loom
MADRID, Sept 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Valencia should be looking forward to a
prestigious double-header against Barcelona in La Liga and Chelsea in the
Champions League, instead find themselves in full-blown crisis after the
sacking of coach Marcelino Garcia Toral.
Marcelino was fired on Wednesday and replaced by the former Barcelona, Real
Madrid and Spain midfielder Albert Celades, who faces a tough baptism at the
Camp Nou on Saturday.
The sacking of Marcelino, 54, by Valencia’s Singaporean owner Peter Lim has
exposed frictions at a club that had been revived by the coach since his
appointment in 2017.
The two-time former Champions League runners-up are fresh from successive
top-four finishes in La Liga and last season beat Barcelona in the Copa del
Rey final to lift their first silverware in 11 years.
However, Marcelino, the ex-Sevilla and Villarreal boss, was critical of the
club’s transfer policy over the close season, including attempts to sell
Spain striker Rodrigo Moreno to Atletico Madrid.
Rodrigo ended up staying, as did Marcelino, for the opening three matches
of the campaign.
But after taking four points from a possible nine, including a 2-0 win over
Mallorca just before the recent international break, the coach has been
ousted as the team prepare for two of their biggest matches of the season.
“I am sure you will do well wherever you go and wherever they let you
work,” said captain Dani Parejo in a very pointed Twitter post.
The 43-year-old Celades, who had a spell as assistant coach at Real Madrid
last season, is therefore stepping into a potentially hostile environment.
“Valencia is like a bull, a huge club,” he said. “I am not afraid. I know
there are huge demands and I understand the concern. I don’t have a lot of
experience in club management.”
After Saturday’s game, Valencia travel to London to take on Chelsea in
their opening match in Group H of the Champions League, in which they will
also face Ajax and Lille.
Player to watch: Eden Hazard
In Real Madrid’s final outing before beginning their Champions League
campaign away to Paris Saint-Germain, Zinedine Zidane’s side entertain
Levante on Saturday.
They will do so without Gareth Bale, who is suspended after being sent off
against Villarreal in Real’s last outing. The Welshman also netted twice in
the 2-2 draw.
Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric is also struggling with a groin injury, but
the good news is that Eden Hazard could finally make his competitive debut
following his summer move from Chelsea.
The Belgian, signed for 100 million euros ($110 million), has not yet
played in La Liga due to a thigh injury.
Key stats
8 – Barcelona have endured a slow start to the season with a defeat away at
Athletic Bilbao and then a draw at Osasuna in their last outing. However they
have won their last eight home games in La Liga, although the last team to
take anything from the Camp Nou was this weekend’s opponents Valencia, in a
2-2 draw in February.
7 – With the Champions League about to begin, Spain’s four representatives
— Barcelona, Real, Atletico Madrid and Valencia — will all play seven
matches in a busy next three weeks.
33,000 – Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay told sports daily Marca
the Basque club have sold more than 33,000 season tickets for their newly
refurbished stadium which will officially open when Atletico visit San
Sebastian on Saturday.
Fixtures (GMT)
Friday
Mallorca v Athletic Bilbao (1900)
Saturday
Real Madrid v Levante (1100), Leganes v Villarreal (1400), Real Sociedad v
Atletico Madrid (1630), Barcelona v Valencia (1900)
Sunday
Eibar v Espanyol (1000), Alaves v Sevilla (1200), Celta Vigo v Granada
(1400), Valladolid v Osasuna (1630), Betis v Getafe (1900)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0915 hrs