David Albelda has asserted that Valencia have an obligation to pick up maximum points in the last five games of the season to pressure Real Sociedad.
La Real’s 4-2 win over Los Che at the weekend has seemingly decided the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot in favour of the Basques.
Whilst they now hold a five-point advantage over Valencia and Malaga, Albelda has asserted that nothing is decided just yet.
“There are 15 points remaining and it is our obligation to force Real to score as many points as possible to make certain of their position,” the captain told reporters this week.
“You must have respect for the competition and for yourselves. We cannot give up yet.
“We do not depend on us, but if we can add 15 points we will be very close to the Champions League.”
The weekend defeat to La Real was marred by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo getting away unseen in the first half with a handball outside the box.
“The game was much more even than the score reflects. It is clear that referees sometimes give and sometimes take away. It is rare that such a move is unseen, really. But they are wrong. it was crucial because we were 1-0 up and they were due to be reduced to 10 men. They say that sometimes the decisions go for you and other times against you, but it is not the same to take a throw-in 90 metres away from goal as it decisive a move as that on Sunday.”
This was in reference to comparing the incident to Los Che’s more favourable refereeing mistake recently, where they took a throw-in awarded to Real Valladolid and went down the pitch to score a last-minute winner.
