Óscar Sánchez began his tenure as Valencia Club de Fútbol's interim manager with a key victory. The team secured its first win of the season with a 0-1 triumph at Alavés's Mendizorroza, a result that lifts them off the bottom of the La Liga EA Sports table.
The only goal of the match came in the 78th minute through Luis Rioja, who finished a fine team move assisted by Javi Guerra. The forward overcame physical discomfort to deliver three points for a Valencia side that now has four points from six matches, placing them 17th. The team had suffered four consecutive defeats prior to this game, including a 0-5 loss to Barcelona and a 1-0 defeat at Sevilla. This poor run had left the club with just one point from the first 15 available, a situation the new manager has immediately reversed.
A dream debut for Sánchez
In the press room, the new coach did not hide his satisfaction. "Lots of happiness. It's the dream debut, but more than happy for myself, I'm happy for the Valencia people, who are suffering, for the players, who don't want to be in this situation," explained Óscar Sánchez. The manager highlighted the personality shown by the team to defend the result under pressure and their commitment to playing with high intensity from the first minute. Sánchez also stressed the importance of the win for the standings, as the team has climbed two positions in the table, moving from 20th to 17th place.
Physical effort and new faces
The victory came with several players battling through pain. Guido, carrying a previous injury, was substituted after playing between 60 and 70 minutes following a knock. Meanwhile, Luis Rioja made a great effort despite his physical condition to be the match-winner. Another positive note was the debut of Mayol in midfield, a player in whom Sánchez has full confidence for continuity. The coach confirmed the team maintained 52% possession during the match, a figure that reflects the control they sought to exert.
The team now faces a week of work in better spirits before hosting Real Sociedad at Mestalla on September 20. The Basque side currently sits 13th in the table. For that match, Valencia will still be without several key players like S. Canos, J. Copete, M. Diakhaby, D. Foulquier, D. López, and U. Sadiq, whose absences can be checked on the club's injuries page.
More detail at Marca - Primera
