Preview: Valencia-Depor

Winning will be on the minds of freshly-beaten Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna when they lock horns at Mestalla on Sunday.

Valencia’s winless run was extended to three games before the international break as they lost 4-2 to Barcelona, leaving Los Che just nine points above the relegation zone in La Liga.

The club have since appointed a new general manager in former Mallorca President Mateu Alemany, but that has only served to destabilise Voro Gonzalez’s position at the helm.

“It doesn’t bother me, but we have to focus on what’s useful and positive,” the Coach said at a Press conference.

“I’ve already talked about the circumstances for which I’m here. My job has been one of responsibility since January, trying to work for the team.

“This is a great responsibility and I don’t care about the future. The club will make their decision and Voro won’t be a problem for anyone.

“The objective is that the team finish the season as high as possible and with good sensations. After that, the club will make the decisions they make and when the time is right, Mateu Alemany has said.

“We can’t lose focus. Now we have to compete in the game we have coming up.”

Eliaquim Mangala’s red card at Camp Nou rules him out against Depor, who are also itching to bounce back after a first defeat under Pepe Mel – a 1-0 reverse at home to arch-rivals Celta Vigo.

“What we have to do is give ourselves a jump-start,” explained the former Real Betis and West Bromwich Albion boss.

“The defeat in the derby hurt us all, me being the first, because if there was a game that we didn’t want to lose, it was Celta.

“The points are what they are, we got three that we didn’t expect against Barcelona and we lost to Celta unfairly.

“We’re going to a difficult place, but we’re going out with the obligation of winning the game.”

The Galicians will be without midfield general Pedro Mosquera, who rejected a move to Valencia last year, due to a thigh injury.

Valencia (probable): Diego Alves; Montoya, Garay, Abdennour, Gaya; Enzo, Parejo, Soler; Orellana, Zaza, Munir

Injuries/suspensions: Mangala (S) Mario, Nani, Rodrigo (all injured)

Deportivo La Coruna (probable): Lux; Juanfran, Sidnei, Albentosa, Fernando; Gil, Bergantinos, Guilherme, Marlos; Andone, Joselu

Injuries/suspensions: Kakuta (I) Luisinho (S) Mosquera (I)

Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea

Form guide: Valencia (L D L W L) Deportivo (L W D W D)

Previous meeting: Deportivo 1-1 Valencia

Kick-off time: 17:30 BST/18:30 CET

Tags Deportivo
La Liga - Club News