VALENCIA
View attachment 320838
May
View attachment 320837
A huge month began against second from bottom
Eibar. I expected them to put up a fight as they looked to avoid relegation but that wasn’t the case as we swept them aside with a 4-0 thrashing.
Suso opened the scoring, which was shortly followed by a
Negredo brace and
Parejo topped it off with a fine strike.
A potential title decider against
Real Madrid followed a week before we met again in the Spanish Cup Final. We just needed to avoid defeat to ensure that we remained in pole position for the title race. We played on the counter from kickoff in an attempt to cope with their attacking strength but we got off to a terrible start as the referee awarded Madrid a penalty after 6 minutes. Fortunately, Rodriguez struck the crossbar and we were let off the hook. We were able to withstand the heavy pressure until halftime but early in the second half Ronaldo found the net from close range. I was forced to change to our usual attacking style in an attempt to get back into the game. The most unlikely of scorers,
Felipe Augusto, hit back with a magnificent 25-yard strike that went in off the underside of the bar. All we had to do was hold on for the remainder of the game and we would stay top. Real Madrid had chances left, right and centre but were unable to find the net again. We scraped out the ugliest of draws but we did what needed to be done!
Spanish Cup Final
Real Madrid vs. Valencia
Would
Real Madrid retain the Spanish Cup or would
Valencia win their first piece of silverware since 2008? It has been all about Valencia and Real Madrid this season as they are battling it out in the league and now meet in the final of the Spanish Cup. Valencia have been the better of the two sides when they have met as they beat Real Madrid 2-1 at home in the league and drew 1-1 away but now they meet on neutral territory and everyone is asking whether Valencia can continue their good run of form against Real Madrid.
Lineups
Real Madrid have an very strong attacking lineup featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez but some may wonder why the likes of Sergio Ramos and Marcelo are not starting ahead of Mateo Musacchio and Alvaro Arbeloa.
View attachment 320834
Valencia have also had a change up at the back as Jose Luis Gaya comes in at left back, perhaps as he will cope better with the pace of Gareth Bale than Lucas Orban would of. Shkodran Mustafi has been moved to right back rather than his preferred centre back position, as he will have to contend with Cristiano Ronaldo. This also means than the young Ruben Vezo will come in at centre back. The attacking side of Valencia’s lineup is similar to what we have seen for the majority of the season.
View attachment 320833
Against all odds we had reached the final of the Spanish Cup and were up against this seasons bitter rivals Real Madrid. We were by no means the favourites for this eagerly anticipated clash but the lads were determined to prove that they are amongst the best in Spain. Before kickoff I told the players that they should play for our loyal fans and they are the ones who really deserve this. As the players walked out onto the pitch I knew that it was out of my hands and all I could do was anxiously yell at them from the sidelines.
We got the game underway and immediately gave the ball away to Illaramendi who propelled Madrid forward for them to win an early corner. I already had my head in my hands as I hoped nothing would come from this and thankfully we survived. Our first promising bit of play came from Parejo who hit the ball forward to Negredo who passed it wide to Feghouli to whip in a cross that found Rodrigo, but Musacchio cleared his header off the line! Minutes later Negredo and Rodrigo were involved again as they took the Casillas out of the game and squared the ball to
Suso who stood in front of an empty net and poked it in! GOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!!
We were 1-0 up after just 14 minutes!!
I yelled from the sideline to tell the players to concentrate as this was all but over. It seemed as though Real Madrid were having chance after chance and we were clinging on. I could feel a goal coming and I wasn’t wrong…
Rodrigo found himself in space and found the net too to make it 2-0 to us!!! I couldn’t believe it; we scored against the run of play once again!
Just before halftime Diego Alves picked up a knock and I would of brought him off but I didn’t have another keeper on the bench! I couldn’t watch the remainder of the half but we held our lead until the break and went in with a 2-0 lead. I told the lads how pleased I was and to keep it up.
The second half began and I expected an immediate reply from Real Madrid but they weren’t able to take their chances and Diego Alves was able to make a save or two when required.
Real Madrid continued to dominate the game as we watched shots fly at our goal and I couldn’t watch whenever Ronaldo was on the ball. But round about the 70
th minute it seemed as though they needed a breather and we managed to take control and involve Suso. He was able to find a pass through to Rodrigo who squared the ball for
Alcacer who placed the ball past an out-of-position Casillas! We had scored again! I couldn’t believe it!!!! 3-0 up against the mighty Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Cup!
Real had a mountain to climb if they were to get back in the game and it didn’t seem likely as they had squandered numerous chances already. I felt as though the game was as good as won but I didn’t want the players to know that so I continued to shout at them from the sideline.
The final seconds approached and Real still hadn’t given up as Kroos aimed a corner to the far post but Otamendi headed it clear and the ref blew the whistle for fulltime!
VALENCIA ARE THE SPANISH CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!
I fell to my knees with relief as the confetti rained down on the pitch and the players celebrated their success. A great day for the fans and everyone involved at the club, but the season wasn’t over yet…
View attachment 320832
Player of the Match
View attachment 320831
Spanish Cup Review
View attachment 320830
View attachment 320829
Physio Room
During the final two of our key players suffered injuries and will miss the last two games of the season.
View attachment 320827
View attachment 320826
League Results
View attachment 320823
Our second last match of the season was against Celta. We had to win to stay in front of Real Madrid but Barcelona were out of the title race after losing to Real Sociedad and drawing with Atletico Madrid. Rodrigo continued his form from the final as he scored right before halftime. Alcacer also got on the scoresheet again to give us a 2-0 win.
The final match of the season came against Almeria, who we failed to beat earlier on in the season. Almeria seemed determined to cause an upset, as they did not give us an easy game. Feghouli scored early on to put us in the lead and a second not too long after. Celta pulled a goal back on the brink of halftime. It was nervy having a one-goal lead for most of the second half but Feghouli scored his third to win us the league!
VALENCIA WIN THE LIGA BBVA!!!
View attachment 320822
Player of the Month
View attachment 320820
End of Season Review
Squad Stats
View attachment 320818
My Young Player of the Year
View attachment 320817
Ould-Chikh was outstanding for a 17 year-old as he scored 11 goals and made 4 assists.
My Player of the Year
View attachment 320815
This was an easy decision as he has been the best player by a mile throughout the season. He scored 17 goals and registered 19 assists.
League Table
View attachment 320813
This was definitely the most thrilling title race I have ever been involved in and I have never won the league on the last day before or had to accumulate 94 points to win the league. I did not expect to win the league in my first season but the team was excellent and I really found a way to get the best out of them.
End of Season Awards
Top Spanish Goalscorer
View attachment 320807
Suso was the top Spanish goalscorer but he is yet to be called up to the Spain squad. Negredo came 2
nd.
Goalkeeper of the Year
View attachment 320805
Ter Stegen won this as he conceded the least goals but I’m not sure how this works as he only played 27 league matches and had less clean sheets than Diego Alves who came 2
nd.
Top Goalscorer
View attachment 320804
Obviously this was between Messi and Ronaldo and Messi edged it by one goal in the end.
Manager of the Year
View attachment 320803
Well deserved I’d say.
Player of the Year
View attachment 320802
A little disappointed that Suso didn’t feature as he did have the second highest average rating, the most assists, and the third most man of the match awards.
Team of the Season
View attachment 320801
Otamendi and Suso made the starting XI while Rodrigo was on the bench.
Manager's Notes
I didn’t feel that we stood a chance at the start of the season when the board told me that I had to challenge for the title with the squad that I had to work with. I thought that there would be no way that I could push Barcelona and Real Madrid in a title race. I have never been so wrong. After getting to know the players and figuring out how to get the best out of them I had nothing but belief. I didn’t plan on winning the Spanish Cup as I wanted to focus on the league but I took the matches as they came and the results fell into place and before I knew it we were in the final where we were as clinical as I’ve ever seen us. I thought we were going to let the league slip from our grasp towards the end but individual moments of brilliance and hard work from each member of the team saw us over the line. My first season as a manager has been a resounding success as we completed a domestic double.
The question is where to now? I did say I was going to leave after I had won the league…
Never really seen a Napoli season either tbh.