Valencia sacks head coach Albert Celades, an official statement was made from the club’s side. They also announced veteran assistant coach Salvador ‘Voro’ Gonzalez as the new interim manager until the end of the season for the remaining 6 league games. The reason for this sudden removal may be due to 3 losses in the last 4 LaLiga Santander games at the hands of Real Madrid, Eibar, and Villareal. In total, out of 5 games after the restart of the season, Valencia has gained only 4 points after been handed a draw against Levante and winning against Osasuna. Before the restart, Valencia sat at 7th position in the table, with 42 points, who looked ready to threaten Getafe and Real Sociedad for European football spot next season. But now the possibility of it looks dim as Valencia sacks head coach, with the club now at 8th with 46 points, with just 6 games to go.
The reasons for 3 quick defeats may be attributed to the lack of form in the forwards as well as, the defenders looking out of touch. Valencia has scored only 3 goals after restart while, conceding 7 goals. In the last match, Villareal comfortably defeated Valencia by 2-0 at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Valencia‘s poor form started before the pause of the season as they’ve gained wins in only 2 of their last 13 matches in all competitions, losing 8 of them.
But results aren’t the only reason for Celades’ departure as it looks the Spanish lost control of the dressing room too. Tension arose within the squad after loss to Eibar itself, with Maxi Gomez‘s criticism of Celades‘ line-up. Celades had also lost the support of the dressing room after he strongly criticized Mouctar Diakhaby after the 1-1 draw with Levante.
Celades arrived at Valencia on September 11, 2019, after the surprise sacking of his predecessor Marcelino, who had guided the club to consecutive top-4 finishes in the league and brought an end to an 11-year drought for any major trophy by leading them to win Copa del Rey. Celades had never before been a first-team coach at club level, gaining a reputation as Spain’s under-21 coach and also as assistant to Julen Lopetegui with the Spain national team and Real Madrid. Valencia with Celades had been getting good results on the pitch too, as in the opening months Los Che reached the last 16 of the Champions League after surprise victories away at Chelsea and Ajax in the group stages. However, after the Supercopa de Espana loss against Real Madrid, Los Che saw their wins dry up.
Valencia Sporting director resigns
Not only Valencia sacks head coach and parted ways but also, the Sporting Director has parted ways as well. Cesar Sanchez who held this post has announced his resignation as Valencia’s sporting director. On Monday morning, Sanchez told the Valencia players in a meeting at the training ground that Celades would remain on as coach. But when owner Peter Lim decided to sack Celades, it left the former Valencia goalkeeper feeling humiliated. Sanchez has been in this post since January.
Valencia’s owner Peter Lim is a Singaporean businessman who took over Los Che on July 2, 2014, and since then he has appointed 6 coaches. On his 1st day as the owner at Mestalla, Lim terminated Pizzi’s contract as coach and chose the next coach himself. The names include popular names such as Nuno Espirito Santo, Gary Neville, Pako Ayesteran, Cesare Prandelli, Marcelino, and Albert Celades– all of whom he has sacked without giving much time to settle.
Valencia announces Interim coach
As Valencia sacks head coach, Salvador ‘Voro’ Gonzalez has been announced as the interim coach. He has been a veteran assistant coach in Valencia. This is the 6th time that he will be coaching the team. The former Valencia defender in a care-taker role has won a total of 18 from his 36 matches across all his spells. He first coached in the 2007/08 season, for the final 5 games. 2 small stints came in next. One in 2012/13 season, in which he sat in the dugout for a game against Lille in the Champions League, and then in 2015/16, when Valencia drew 1-1 with Barcelona and beat Barakaldo in the Copa del Rey. In 2016/17 Gonzalez had two spells as a coach, for 28 matches after the sacking of Prandelli in which Valencia won in 12 matches and drew in 4.
Voro knows each and everything about Valencia as he has himself played for the club for the major part of his career and, has been associated with its coaching staff or technical depart since the early 2000s. He knows the worth of the Valencia crest, which beats for him more than the others. He has been in the charge of Los Che 5 times earlier and, he never let the club down. With 6 games left this campaign, Voro won’t surely be expected to perform miracles, but the attitude and commitment of the players will surely be upward.
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