Our series of La Liga team previews continues with Andrew Ryan casting an eye over Valencia.
Summer Transfers
Valencia have had a busy summer this year in terms of both ins and outs. In fact, Valencia have spent the second highest amount of money so far in La Liga with €79 million spent on players. Among the players brought in are highly rated Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo and fellow Spaniard Santi Mina. Joining those at the Mestalla are Danilo, Zakaria Bakkali, Andre Gomes, Joao Cancelo and Yoel Rodriguez.
In terms of departures, Valencia have lost five players this summer with Vinicius Araujo, Filipe Augusto, Robert Ibanez and Salva Ruiz all going out on loan while Victor Ruiz joined Villareal for €2.7 million. The biggest departure will be that of Nicolas Otamendi, who is set to complete a €45 million move to Manchester City.
Last Season
The 2014-15 La Liga campaign will go down as a very successful one for Los Che as they were able to seal fourth place behind champions Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. As well as that, Valencia boasted one of the finest defensive records in the league that season, conceding only 32 goals. In fact, only Atletico Madrid (29) and Barcelona (21) had better defensive records.
What made last season so successful was its comparison to the campaign prior. Valencia conceded just 32 goals last season, but 53 the season prior. At the other end of the pitch, in 2014-15, Valencia notched a total of 70 goals, a massive improvement on their total of 51 the season before – expectations were exceeded.
Manager
Nuno Espirito Santo will be a man under pressure next season at the Mestalla. Having clinched fourth in his very first campaign with Valencia last season, he will be expected to build on that performance. That is not to say that he will be expected to challenge Barcelona, Real Madrid or the free-spending Atletico Madrid but he will be expected to bolster the side’s hold on fourth as well as a respectable European campaign.
Despite this pressure, it is unlikely that Santo will deviate from his system which suited the team so well last season. In fact, with the money that has been spent so far this summer, it will be expected that he will develop an improvement on the formula. We can expect a similar 4-3-3 shape next year.
Strengths
If last season is anything to go by, Valencia’s main strength will continue to be their defensive solidarity. With players such as Shkodran Mustafi retained, as well as Cancelo signed, Valencia will remain a tough shell to crack for any team in Spain or Europe next season. Besides, with the defenders that they had last season, Valencia were able to keep that good record of having conceded only 32 goals in La Liga. As well as that, the signing of hot prospect Ryan gives Santo a different option for a goalkeeper if he needs to rotate Diego Alves (once fit, that is. Alves begins the season injured after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament).
Weaknesses
It is difficult to point out a particular area that Valencia need to improve upon. Santo has done a fantastic job in reinforcing the squad which did so well last season. However, if there was a particular aspect of Los Che which may need to be strengthened it would be the team’s big-game mentality.
Last campaign, Valencia collected a respectable but improvable eight points from the 18 available in matches against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, if Santo hopes to build on last season’s success, he will hope that tally will be improved this season.
Key Player
With the likely departure of talismanic defender Otamendi, Valencia will put increasing importance on World Cup winner Mustafi. The German centre-back’s partnership with Otamendi was a major factor in Valencia’s success last campaign. With the Argentinian on the brink of signing for Manchester City, Mustafi’s performance at the back for Los Che will prove increasingly important for his team’s success this campaign, both in Spain and in Europe.
This is a lot of pressure to be put on a 23-year-old’s shoulders but, with the right replacement for Otamendi, Valencia may reap the rewards throughout a season that may prove to be Mustafi’s breakout year.
Best XI
(4-3-3): Alves (GK); Barragan, Vezo, Mustafi, José Gaya; Dani Parejo, Danilo, Perez; Mina, Negredo, Alcacer.
Prediction
The most important thing Valencia need to do next season is to maintain the momentum they garnered last season. Santo has done well this summer in bringing players in and reinforcing the right areas despite the inevitable departure of the aforementioned Otamendi.
Despite all of the money that has been spent this summer, the most realistic expectation is another fourth place finish for Los Che. It seems unlikely they will be able to challenge Atletico Madrid considering the money that has been spent by the Rojiblancos and it seems improbable that they will reach the heights of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Fourth place will probably be where they finish by next May.
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