It’s been a good week in the Valencia camp. The sun shines, the birds sing and the team obtained an important win against Osasuna with a ‘hat-trick’ performed by the Brazilian daredevil Jonas Gonçalves. However, December hides within a couple of ‘win-or-go-home’ games for Djukic’s boys.
Valencia’s race against the clock began a long time ago. The large numer of losses and the stumbling steps given in the league have condemned the squad to an irrelevant place in the competition, frightening nobody with its potential. A change was necessary, indeed. It seems Rufete’s arrival has helped to ease that problem.
The new sports general manager may have not invented the wheel, but sure he has tried tinkering with stuff this last couple of weeks in order to tie the loose ends that were dragging along the team. Broad concepts such as methodology or physical training have been put into de spotlight with only one goal: that Valencia’s players only have the responsibility to play football at a high level. Everything else is under control by the new managing structure.
Maybe it isn’t related. Maybe its just a lucky coincidence. But the last three games have shown an improvement that has permitted fans to regain some hope. Main stars like Jonas have respawned their relationship with his striking antics –his ‘hat-trick’ against Osasuna was simply stunning- and secondary team members like Barragan or Oriol Romeu –who is firmly binded by Chelsea’s contractual obligations- have stepped up to the plate in a very interesting way, giving key players such as Fuego or Joao a run for their money.
The players are hungry. Figuratively and literally, as last Thursday they had dinner with Djukic and Rufete to show everyone that the team is united and motivated. Nastic and Kuban Krasnodar, therefore, seem like appetizers while the two main dishes are served. Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid won’t be easy to digest, and Valencia will have to gobble them up bite after bite if they intend to land on Christmas Eve with their morale “In a one-horse open sleigh”.
Paco Polit (@pacopolit)
VLC NEWS – Sports