Drama at the Mestalla

Bittersweet week for Valencia. They managed to pick up some unexpected silverware on Wednesday after defeating Getafe in the Copa del Rey final. Usually that’s enough to get you through the week on a good note no matter what else happens. Well not at Valencia. They were manhandled by Athletic Bilbao, not exactly a behemoth, by the not so nice score of 5-1 on Sunday. So today, Ronald Koeman’s head went on the chopping block and it was sliced and diced Ginsu style.

Given the fact that Koeman has won a whole 4 of his 22 games in La Liga thus far, it might be a little bit late to start calling “crisis talks”. There’s an assimilation period and then there’s just plain sucking. 4 out of 22 – especially when they were 4 points from the top when Quique Sanchez Flores was canned – with that roster probably goes down as the latter.

This leaves new manager and ex-player Voro with the not-so-fun task of avoiding relegation now that they sit just 2 measly points above the zone with 5 games left to go. But honestly, with Koeman is out of the picture, is there a soul alive who would pick Valencia to go down? Too much talent and quite possibly too much of a boost from Ronnie’s departure. Rumor is, though, Voro will only be around until the remainder of the season, when Marcelino will take the post for his first ever gig. So that’s four coaches in less than a calendar year. Nice.

As for Koeman, who knows. This won’t be the brightest spot on his CV, but he’ll get a gig soon. Chances are a few. He’s now left Ajax, Benfica, PSV and Valencia in the last three years alone. Ladies and gents, your European town bicycle.

* – Cesar at the Valencia Offside is up on the happenings.

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Category: Spain La Liga