Valencia vs Valladolid preview - Valverde urges Valencia focus

Posted Sunday, April 07, 2013 by PA

Valencia boss Ernesto Valverde has called on his players to ignore the boardroom unrest at the club as they prepare to take on Real Valladolid on Sunday.

Club president Manuel Llorente resigned on Friday, reportedly in protest at boardroom changes, while vice-president Jose Antonio Garcia Moreno also left his post.

The off-field issues could easily prove a distraction to a Valencia team firmly in the hunt for Champions League place but Valverde is confident his players can maintain their focus.

"Valencia is not boring," he told reporters. "Every week, always, something happens.

"Circumstances are a bit beyond me but really it has little effect on us day-to-day.

"We have to keep going to get that fourth position."

Los Che go into the weekend's fixtures just two points behind Real Sociedad who hold the final Champions League place and face a Valladolid team who have won just one of their last nine games.

Miroslav Dukic's men suffered a 3-1 defeat to Osasuna last time out which came off the back of a 4-1 hammering against Real Sociedad.

But Valverde is wary of facing a wounded animal, and said: "It is an opponent that is struggling. It's a team that does not arrive at its best.

"This can bring adverse results."

Roberto Soldado, who had been a doubt with an ankle injury, should be in contention for Valencia after taking part in Friday's training session.

That gives Valverde the welcome headache of a full squad to select from and he admits that it is often difficult to select his starting XI.

"The biggest problem is who to leave out," he said. "That is where I have trouble.

"I have no reason to leave players out because they all train well and are professional."

Dukic called on his players not to panic despite their recent run of poor form.

The Serbian acknowledges his side face a tough task to turn around their fortunes at the Mestalla but believes the only way they will get out of their current slump is by sticking together.

He told reporters: "They have to be outside of euphoria and sadness.

"It is important that they take a balanced view.

"There are nine games left and eleven points to the relegation zone.

"If the teams below us are able to win four more games then we don't deserve to stay in the division."