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
Newcastle United beat Blackburn Rovers 4-2 after extra time while Championship side Stoke City threw away a two-goal lead as they suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier Shrewsbury Town in
Blackburn Rovers vs. Newcastle United - Football Match Report
Football: Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky FA Cup trip to Newport Guardiola (above) has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade. PHOTO: REUTERS
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
Singapore. 3 in 4 Singapore football fans plan their holidays around sporting events: Expedia. businesstimes.com.sg - Ng Ren Jye. OUT of 500 Singapore football fans surveyed, 76 per cent have planned holidays around sporting events, and nearly half (46 per cent) admitted to …
Expedia Group Football Travel Trends Study Reveals 87% of
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Although the hot and stormy weather is no indicator, football season is right around the corner in Baltimore. It's no secret that Ravens fans love to travel to support the
International Champions Cup Singapore - Visit Singapore
Arsenal did not exert control after the opener as Huddersfield flew into challenges to unsettle the visitors, but one minute before the interval, Lacazette tapped in at the far post after being
Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Tottenham's Kane has been ready to play for 10 days - Pochettino "Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and of course for a team like us it's a massive impact to have him
Tottenham's Kane has been ready to play for 10 days - Pochettino
global.espn.com/football/tottenham-hotspur/story/3780850/tottenhams-kane-has-been-ready-to-play-for-10-days-pochettino
"I hope he will be a massive boost for us," Pochettino told a news conference. "Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and of course for a team like us it's a massive impact to have him available. I'm so happy to have all the players, but we can't hide that he's one of the best strikers in the world." Editor's Picks
Tottenham vs Liverpool Betting Tips: Kane to return with a
SINGAPORE — New Singapore national football coach Tatsuma Yoshida got off to a winning start in his first match in charge, yet the Lions' 4-3 friendly win over the Solomon Islands on Saturday (8 June) clearly showed that they need plenty of improvement before they can challenge for honours.
Detroit Lions must sign Le'Veon Bell if they want run game
Qatar boss Felix Sanchez says his side must operate on a game-by-game basis after a 6-0 win over North Korea secured progression to the AFC Asian Cup last 16. Almoez Ali scored four as Qatar put in a rampant display on Sunday to move top of Group E, and will now take on Saudi Arabia to decide who claims pole position.
Luis Suarez says Barcelona "looked like schoolboys" defending Divock Origi's winning goal for Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final second leg. Trent Alexander-Arnold's quick corner found
We Looked Like Schoolboys: Luis Suarez after Barcelona
Guardiola sorry City awarded 'offside' goal - theworldnews.net
Mar 18, 2019 · Ole Gunnar Solskjaer As Solskjær soars, how many extra points does a manager really add? For all the praise lavished on the likeable Norwegian, I remain glued to the fence. Don't get me wrong.
Wolves 2-1 Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants five wins for
Result against Bayern Munich won't affect Premier League bid: Jurgen Klopp Liverpool are second in the standings with 73 points, one point behind defending champions Manchester City with eight matches remaining this season.
Liverpool result at Bayern Munich won't affect Premier League
LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool's Premier League rivals that the leaders are laying the foundations for long-term success. Klopp's side sit four points clear at the top as they chase Liverpool's first English title since 1990.
Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp
And that has got Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Lim Kia Tong and his council worried. "We need to see if we need to tweak the system or the coaching staff," added Lim, whose
Lim Kia Tong 'willing to change', gets support ahead of FAS
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer online free streaming live english
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch soccer games live stream free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch soccer aid live stream
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch soccer live stream links
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch champions league live streaming match
watch live soccer game today
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live stream uk
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer online free streaming live india
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch soccer am live stream
watch champions league live streaming video
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch premier league live streaming video
#gym #cristiano #calciatoribrutti #fut #coutinho #manchestercity #satira #zinedinezidane #kickoff #sixtimes #oasisofficial #mane #noelgallagher #golazo #rugby #londoncity #transfernews #hoffenhiem #Suarez #league2 #coys #beatifulgame #champion #mancityvsliverpool #thebeatles #cr7 #Sunday #footballmeme #footballdubai #premierleague #fcbarcelona #firmino #frasirap #coyg #trollfootball #boxing #bayernmunich #salah #bayervshoffenheim #klopp #panini #vandijk #chocolatecoffee #oasis #Fcb #villarealcf #freekick #insegreto #PartyTime #americanfootball #soccermemes #alissonbecker #footballfans #visubal #liverpoolcity #soccer #goal #thomasmeunier #commentimemorabili #romania #livestreaming #lfc #england #footballschedule #conference #manchesterunited #ignoranza #seriea #bayern #manunited #realmadrid #bundesliga #Barcelona #nationsleague #cristianoronaldo #barcelona #lovefootball #zidane #soccerbible #Liverpool #livesports #leomessi #paulmcartney #acmilan #MSport #soccer #realmadrid #henderson #liverpool
No comments:
Post a Comment