Valencia boss Mauricio Pellegrino has admitted that the club have made a poor start to the season, having won just two League games so far.
Los Che have racked up eight points from the first seven matches, and the Argentine Coach has conceded that the beginning of the campaign has not been up to standard – something for which he blames himself.
“The results, which is what people look at, have not been what we'd expect,” he told EFE. “I do not think we deserved to lose some of the games we have, but I will not give any excuses. I hope, with the work of the players and myself, the situation will change.
“We've done some good things and some not so good things, and we have paid dearly for our mistakes. We have won three games [in all competitions], lost four and drawn two, and a combination of injuries and good quality opponents have meant we haven't been able to add to that.
“I am giving this job my all. Football is all I have thought about my entire life, and I have devoted all my time and love to this game. I am doing the best I can, but I can certainly do more to live up to the expectations of the club.”
He also commented on the recent international break, and how that could affect his team over the next few weeks.
“Valencia has a lot of internationals, and this issue is not any easy one for any Coach. [Once the players return] I will only have two days before travelling and preparing for the match against Athletic Bilbao, and then just one day before travelling to Belarus [to face BATE Borisov in the Champions League]. But these are the problems of modern football.”
The 41-year-old, who played for Els Taronja for six year between 1999 and 2005, also remarked on the change at the club over the past decade, and the difference in quality in Spanish football during that time.
“On an organizational level, the club is much better,” he said. “In all areas things are better, but the expectations have changed.
“La Liga is very good. When I left Spain [to join Liverpool], I followed the League very closely because it has real quality. In terms of level of play, it is the best, the most complete. Although Barcelona and Real Madrid have distanced themselves from the rest.”
