Let’s Focus on Europe! (plus Ayala stays?)

By: Cesar | April 13th, 2007

So the attention shifts somewhat, with our heroes banished from the Champions League.
Where do our eyes turn and our necks crane?
You guessed it.
To the Champions League, of course …

With 9 games to play, Valencia lie 5th in the table, 6 points behind leaders Barcelona. Title hopes are probably long-winded, but that didn’t stop Valencia president Juan Soler from admitting his desire for the club to push for the championship.

Wait, wait … hold on, now said striker Fernando Morientes. Let’s focus on getting to Europe first, then worry about winning the league, he said. ‘It would be like selling the bearskin before hunting the bear,’ Morientes muttered while adjusting his racoon-hat and putting his mittens on.

Not sure who to agree with here.
On one hand, we do need to get into the Champions League next year.
But shouldn’t we aim as high as we can?
Yes, it’ll be difficult to win La Liga this season. But it can be done. Why not aim for the only available prize?

In any event, all talk of a championship will be muzzled if Valencia lose to Sevilla on Sunday.
Frédéric Kanouté did not travel back to Spain and remained in London to undergo tests on a groin injury following Sevilla’s game against Tottenham last night in the UEFA Cup. So he’ll miss the match. And that’s good news …

Unfortunately, we’ll likely miss defender Raul Albiol and forward David Silva, injured in the Chelsea battle.

We need this game, as much for points as for morale. For pride.
But does anyone trust Quique to get these guys motivated for the final 9 games of the season?

He’s coaching for his job these next 2 weeks. Up the following weekend: Real Madrid …

***BREAKING NEWS***
File this under the category of ‘Strange & Unbelieveable’, but Spanish rag MARCA is reporting that all-world defender Roberto Ayala is staying with Valencia. Yes, he’s already signed a contract with Villarreal but apparently there’s a 6 million Euro buyout clause for Valencia to keep him and they’ve met that condition …
So what about Getafe defender Alexis, who we signed a few weeks ago?
Is this a vote of no-confidence for Carboni?
And don’t Ayala and his agent get the 6 million, not Villarreal?

Oh, this could get interesting. The Mestalla Chronicles never cease to amaze.