Valladolid vs Real Madrid preview - Valverde set for Valencia bow

Posted Saturday, December 08, 2012 by PA

Ernesto Valverde will take charge of Valencia for the first time in league action against Osasuna on Saturday and he is looking to reverse their awful away form this season that led to Mauricio Pochettino being sacked earlier in the week.

Los Che have taken just two points and scored two goals in their seven away games in the league so far this campaign, but Valverde did at least get off to a winning start on the road at Lille in the Champions League in midweek.

Valverde told Marca: "I have found a normal dressing room where the players want to play good football and win and they are prepared to do this.

"I have a clear idea of what I want and there are things that require a certain time but I like the team to press high up the field.

"Pamplona is not a place where Valencia tend to do badly, but where everyone does because Osasuna play with such great intensity. However, the team is having difficulties away from home and we need to turn this around.

"If we want to be amongst the top teams we need to start taking the three points away from home."

The visitors though will be missing their match winner from midweek as Jonas is suspended, but Joao Pereira could return and a number of other regular starters will be recalled to the starting line-up after being rested on Wednesday.

Osasuna meanwhile could have captain Patxi Punal back after just over a month out through injury, but with Los Rojillos currently on a five-game unbeaten run he admits he may find it hard to get back in the side.

He told the club's website: "I am at my top level. Everything has gone more slowly that I had hoped, but for what seemed like a small thing with a little pain I was warned during the recuperation process to not go too quickly. Between one thing and another I have had almost two months without competing this season and for me this is too long.

"It is something positive that I wasn't missed. When you play and the things go well you seem irreplaceable. Others have shown up to take the responsibility and I think that in every walk of life that is 100% positive."

Osasuna were dealt a blow though with the news that Sisi will miss the rest of the season for the Navarrans after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano last week and Kike Sola is also a doubt so Roland Lamah and Joseba Llorente could return to the starting line-up.