MADRID • Valencia coach Marcelino knows that if his team were to have any chance of beating Barcelona, they must first stop Lionel Messi.
Ahead of today's King Cup's final in Seville, the Spaniard did not reveal his exact game plan but warned his players that they will have to nullify the threat of the Argentinian superstar forward at all costs.
"The key is giving Messi little to do in the game," Marcelino said, as reported by Spanish daily Marca.
"The problem is that although he appears sparingly, his actions have a decisive influence."
Striker Kevin Gameiro, who scored 11 goals in all competitions this season (Messi has 50), added: "With Messi, Barcelona are never easy to beat. But we can't afford to play with fear of what's in front of us. Do that and you lose."
Valencia, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, last won the King's Cup 11 years ago when Fernando Morientes scored in a 3-1 victory over Getafe in a stadium that no longer exists. That was the last trophy the club hoisted in any competition.
After 15 games this season, they sat 15th in the Spanish LaLiga, a battle against relegation more likely than a late push for the top four.
2008
The last time Valencia won the King's Cup.
"I can't explain it," said Marcelino, who was the club's 12th coach in five years. But, this time, the club persevered and his team's form returned.
They made the Europa League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Arsenal, and then saw off Valladolid last Saturday to reach next season's Champions League.
The result may not be remarkable - they made it last year, too - but it was the way they did it. Unlike Barcelona, the adversity enhanced the achievement.
"It has been an outstanding season," added Marcelino. "We have had a lot of problems, but we stayed calm. To get back into the Champions League again is a great achievement."
For LaLiga champions Barcelona, a fifth consecutive King's Cup will amount to just damage limitation if they beat Valencia.
Victory for Barca would only slightly alleviate the disappointment of failing in the Champions League. But, should they lose, less than three weeks after the collapse at Liverpool, it would plunge the club back into crisis.
The numbers, however, favour Barcelona. Twenty-six points separate the two sides in the LaLiga table, with Barca scoring more goals than Valencia have scored and let in put together.
Valencia captain Dani Parejo finished as their top scorer with nine league goals, the same number Messi had hit before the middle of November. And Valencia have beaten Barcelona only once in 14 attempts, without a victory in any of their last eight meetings.
But, while Barca look like a side still hurting and eager to end the season, Valencia are flying high after the late surge that saw them snatch fourth place last Saturday.
"We weren't playing for anything and it showed," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde after the 2-2 draw away at Eibar on Sunday.
"In Seville, we will be completely different."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Football: Lukaku double inspires Man United to 3-1 win at
Arsenal back to winning ways with 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Alex Iwobi deflected strike gave Arsenal 16th-minute lead Alexandre Lacazette's 10th league goal of season made it two Late own goal from Sead Kolasinac was consolation for hosts Arsenal still without away Premier League clean sheet all season Huddersfield bottom, 13 points from safety; Arsenal stayed sixth Arsenal host
Soccer: Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has fuelled speculation about his future by confirming he is no longer contracted to Molde. The fan favourite joined on a deal until the end of the season 2018-19 season, after the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December. The intention was for
Solskjaer confirms his contract in Norway has expired
Football: Search for missing Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala resumes in English Channel في January 23, 2019 sport, LONDON (REUTERS) - The scan for Cardiff City's new football star, Emiliano Sala, continued on Wednesday (Jan 23) 36 hours after the light flying machine he was flying on vanished in the English Channel.
Emiliano Sala missing plane: Search for Cardiff City's record
Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd miracle in Paris Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his "confident" side could stage a Champions League fightback at Paris Saint-Germain this week after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd miracle in Paris
La Liga: Griezmann on target again as Atletico Madrid edge closer to Barcelona Griezmann now has eight goals in as many games, his latest helping Atletico register their sixth win in seven league
Griezmann On Target Again As Atletico Edge Closer To
England captain Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he has forgiven Chelsea coach Marco Ianni for his celebration of Ross Barkley's late equaliser. As Chelsea scored to make it 2-2, Ianni appeared to
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho on Chelsea coach
A second-half strike from N'Golo Kante was enough for Chelsea to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in the Premier League and send them five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal. Chelsea had a goal disallowed for offside and twice hit the post in the first half at Selhurst Park, but scored the winner five minutes into the second period when Kante (50
Kante fires Chelsea to victory at Crystal Palace - Football
Barcelona are 12 points clear at the top of La Liga. (Source: Reuters) Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to play.
Football: Barcelona on verge of La Liga title after beating
LISBON, (Reuters) - - Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has ruled himself out of the vacant job at Benfica, saying he has no intention of coaching in his native Portugal for the time
Benfica appoint Bruno Lage after Jose Mourinho ruled himself out
Pep Guardiola's bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino when Manchester City face Tottenham in the quarter
The Standard - Kenya: Pochettino plans to ruin old pal
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar