Valencia vs Rayo Vallecano preview - Djukic: Los Che on right track

Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic believes his team are on the right track as they look to continue their revival with a third straight win when they host Rayo Vallecano.

Los Che had been on a four-game losing streak, culminating in a 3-0 defeat at home to Swansea in their opening Europa League group game.

Fifteen hundred fans reacted to that result by waiting for the players after the game, and the media speculated that the Serbian coach's job was on the line, but wins at home to Sevilla and away at Granada have led to a change in atmosphere at the club.

President Amadeo Salvo declared in an interview that Djukic would stay in his role until the end of the season regardless of the results, and the coach believes that resulted in a change of attitude at the club.

"The most important factor was the president's message, and then the attitude of the fans after the debacle against Swansea," he told a press conference.

"Now the two victories have brought the team closer together.

"The team's confidence is growing and we are going to keep improving.

"The most important thing now is to maintain our competitiveness and keep defending well."

The club's off-pitch problems are not over, however, and on Friday the board decided to suspend centre-back Adil Rami temporarily from the squad and open disciplinary proceedings against him, following comments he made in a television interview, criticising his team-mates and Djukic.

The France international has been left out of the squad for the Rayo match, meaning Valencia are without both regular centre-backs, with captain Ricardo Costa out with a hamstring injury.

Jeremy Mathieu and Victor Ruiz are likely to form the central-defensive partnership on Saturday.

Djukic also has a problem in attack, with striker Helder Postiga sidelined with a thigh injury.

The coach said Darlon Pabon, Jonas or Paco Alcacer would stand in for the Portuguese up front.

Rayo go into the match on the back of a 4-1 defeat at Sevilla, which sent them bottom of the Primera Division table.

Paco Jemez's side have now lost their last five games and have conceded a total of 20 goals already.

Jonathan Viera and Alejandro Galvez were both sent off at Sevilla and are suspended for the trip to the Mestalla.