For outsiders, managing Valencia has long appeared a pitiless task. The intolerance shown towards manager Unai Emery during his tenure has seemed ludicrous at times; but then, these are the same supporters who waved white hankies as Hector Cúper took them to successive Champions League finals — and spent as much time booing as cheering when Rafa Benítez delivered two league titles and a UEFA Cup in his campaigns.
But now, the tide turning against Emery is inevitable; inevitable and, perhaps understandable. He has worked miracles keeping the squad competitive as they cut costs, selling his best players every year to bring down the debt. They had become accustomed — bored, even — with being good enough to come third but not quite good enough to get any higher over the last few seasons. With that certainty now anything but, the knives are out.
“Go now!” the small band of traveling fans implored him at Rayo a fortnight ago, sentiments which found a fuller voice in their disappointing draw to city rivals Levante a week later. More than the points dropped, it was the manner in which they were dropped which irked the Mestalla crowd above all; another game where Los Che had let a winning position slip. The 46th time that’s happened in Emery’s three and a half years at the helm.
Not that any of this should take away from their performance against the leaders Real Madrid at the weekend, for it’s only the third time they’ve failed to take maximum points at home this season. And If they had goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to thank for denying Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Ángel Di Maria, they could also feel somewhat aggrieved not to have claimed an unlikely
Tino and Ricardo Costa were both foiled by the woodwork before Iker Casillas produced a breathtaking save to deny Jordi Alba in the final minutes.
The man being spoken of as Emery’s likely successor, José Ramón Sandoval, could hardly have done more to add to his growing reputation on Saturday. Osasuna, flying high but smarting from a 5-1 reverse against Real, looked to be a difficult opponent on paper.
On grass, that feeling lasted all of five minutes in Vallecas as Rayo cantered to a 6-0 victory; a victory which leaves them well poised to claim a Europa League spot. Not bad going for a side who were widely assumed to be headed straight back down to the Segunda.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/Sx_flImF98s/post.aspx
Lake District Financial sector Strictly Come Dancing Italy Soap opera Rob Brydon
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento