UEFA Cup and Mijatovic
By: Cesar | October 7th, 2008
Today’s UEFA Cup draw drew up some nice surprises for our Beloved.
For starters, we got a relatively easy draw. Of course, I’m saying this in the calm of October, when we’re in first place.
Who knows what our season will look like in a few months time.
But from here, it looks good.
Our Group G of the UEFA Cup includes Club Brugges (Belgium), Rosenborg (Norway), FC Copenhagen (Denmark) and Saint Etienne (France).
Matches begin on October 23 and continue through December 18 with each club in action on four of the 5 match days. According to the schedule I’ve seen posted on the previous blog post, we’re off the first day (Oct. 23rd).
Then:
Nov. 6 – Copenhagen (Mestalla).
Nov. 27 – Rosenborg (Norway).
Dec. 4 – Brugges (Mestalla).
Dec. 17 – St. Etienne (France).
The top three in the group advance, with the runner-ups meeting a team eliminated from the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. From there, it’s home and away until the final in Istanbul, Turkey May 20.
So? What do you think?
From my vantage point, I’d say it’s a group we should win.
Of course, we’ve a point to prove against Rosenborg, who essentially knocked us out of the Champions League last season which led to the firing of QQ Sanchez Flores and the hiring of Ronnie ‘TinTin’ Koeman. That alone should fire our belly enough to score … 20? 30 goals?
We lost both matches to the Norwegians 2-0 last season. There’s some sort of revenge on our minds in that encounter.
As for the other clubs, we’ve never played Brugges or St. Etienne.
We do have a history with Copenhagen, having played them in the 1979-80 European Cup Winners’ Cup. Alfredo di Stefano was our coach and guided us to a 2-2 tie in Copenhagen. From there, we defeated the Danes 4-0 at the Mestalla en route to the final, where we defeated Arsenal on penalties.
So that’s that.
Again, it’s a fairly easy group from my vantage point. Of course, we’re involved in the meaty part of our domestic schedule at that point, with matches against the elites of Spanish football.
For me, La Liga is more important. We’ll see how coach Unai Emery and his troops treat this incantation of Europe’s bridesmaid’s cup.
87-year old Ruben Baraja thinks Valencia’s little whipper snappers did well in the group draw …
“At first glance I believe it’s a good group for us. We have the chance to go through to the next phase and we should be favorites,” he said, pointing his cane at the journalist. “The most difficult side is Rosenborg since we lost to them in the Champions League last year.”
“We must respect our opponents but I believe we have enough possibilities to do well in this group,” he predicted.
That’s true. But what about those dates in the cold weather in November and December?
“The cold weather will be a complication when playing away but that should not be an excuse to not qualify for the next round,” he concluded, rubbing his throbbing legs.
Speaking of throbbing legs (that’s a horrible transition, I know), team president Vicente Soriano is upset with the Real Madrid hierarchy regarding the supposed negotiation over the transfer of David Villa this summer.
Seems Soriano’s angry with former Valencia player and Judas extraordinaire Pedja Mijatovic, Real Madrid’s sporting director.
In an interview with Radio Marca, Soriano said, “I was very clear that Villa and Silva were not leaving Valencia. Mijatovic is lying. He made offensive comments toward the club. It is disrespectful to us.”
It’s not the first time Pedja was disrespectful to us. He broke many a Valencia heart in 1996 when he left us for the much ballyhooed confines of the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mijatovic has been the subject of much discussion around La Liga this summer after his transfer dealings, or lack of, and Soriano has nothing but contempt for him, saying: “Mijatovic made comments towards Valencia that were scornful and badly educated.”
“He is someone whose first place was Valencia so he cannot be scornful to us,” he roared.
Kinda late for that, no?
It’s probably a mountain made out of a molehill. Still, the good feelings between the two clubs seems to be slipping. That’s a good thing. It’s always better when the animosity between the two is heightened.
Category: Team News
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Just to add some info on the team I know most about in our group: I’m from Denmark and FCK is considered the strongest club in our country and they have often won the league here. Still the danish league isn’t very good and even a mid-table team from La Liga could beat them so I have no worries there.
Amunt Valencia!To damn bad that they aren’t playing here in Denmark! I so want to see our Beloved live!
Posted from
United States
-
I just wanted to say, after enough Heineken and Johnnie W, that Valencia will kick ass of all of the teams hehe. Amunt haha
Posted from
Switzerland -
Valencia should get out of the group phase easily Rosenborg play well but they should not be a problem. If the group was harder Valencia might have had to rotate fewer players which might have hurt their league form but with this easy group Valencia can keep up the usual rotation and resting of players and keep up their good league form.
Posted from
United States -
Cesar man, I love ur sense of humor; I finish reading the article (which was very good) like 7 minutes ago and I’m still laughing. Keep up the good work. Btw, u should try looking for a job as a sports journalist or something; you would kick ass.
Posted from
United States -
I forget to mention or ask (whatever) what the hell is the deal with Juventus and the persuit of former Valencia coaches???? It’s funny; they have Ranieri n now they want Rafa, who’s next? Quique? Maybe that great barca defender but sorry ass coach koeman? Not that it bothers me but it is funny.
Posted from
United States -
Wow, I could not believe the relative lack of good teams in our group and the fact that we have to play rosenbourg. Since I have a good friend from Norway, who is a die-hard fan of one of my most hated teams on earth, Man-U, I have not heard the end of it for our two losses to them. We better beat the hell out of them.
Posted from
United States -
I get a sense of super motivation from our players against Rorsenberg. But plz don’t take it too easily. I remembered they did good aginst Chelsea last year as well. Don’t get into the same pitfall twice. Else, I don’t mind us out of UEFA cup if we are still on the top, or 3rd place after the hell of the fixture in Nov. I don’t want to lose the chance of next year’s CL games and I honestly don’t think we are able to do well in both Liga and UEFA cup. Hopefully Unai will prove me wrong.
Posted from
United States -
While I would prefer to win la Liga, I don’t think we should rest all of our star players in UEFA matches if we have a chance of moving on… After that nightmarish last season I think it would be good for all of us to win some Cup matches.
Posted from
Spain -
The objective is to win first two games, get 6 points which should be enough to advance to knockout phase. We have serious games in november & december in La liga.
Check out my lineup for games vs. Bruges & St. Etienne:
GK: Guajita
DF: Moretti, Helguera, Curo Torres, Miguel
MF: Hugo Viana, Baraja, Edu, Pablo
FWD: Angulo, ZigicPosted from
Slovenia -
Quin, I totally agree, our “second string” should be able to handle the group stage. The primary focus needs to be La Liga. Nice to hear Albelda on Fuera de Juego on ESPN Deportes this week. On a separate note – What’s all this about Baraja and Albelda hating each other? Is this true?
Posted from
United States -
elisa,this stems from the time of the two inept lard arses,soler and koeman.once apon a time david and rubes were chums, albelda was our all time super captain and all round hero.soler wanted him and the other two out because he saw albelda as too popular and powerful in the club ( he is genuinley loved here in valencia )fat head no balls koeman was told to do the dirty on the trio,and being the man of principal that he is,he did it with glee.part of the deal was to get the dressing room split and against the trio,for this uncle baraja was promised the captaincy and 40 virgins (hard to find round here ).scary machena was also bought off in this way but has apparently seen the error of his ways and apolagised profuslly to the outed trio,while uncle baraja remains sure that he is, and always has been a more gifted player than our david,and should of been captain all along,anyway thats the short answer.
Posted from
Spain -
Lol @ Bob hehe
Not too good news from the Valencian camp. The club and the companies constructing the Nuevo Mestalla are ok again after paying an important bill this week, but it seems the club expects a delay of at least 6 months for the finalization of the new stadion. The previous date (June 2009) can still be reached, but expected now is that is will be done around december 2009 or january 2010. In that case, we will play in Mestalla another full year, plus we can not get the CL final for 2010…
Posted from
Switzerland -
with the current form, i`ll see the great Valencia team which have lifted the trophy long time ago. hopes the players don’t get complacent to much as i see Rosenborg as a tricky team. Brugges also have a chance to disappoint us as they also have the experienced played in the CL. but whatever, forever Valencia. all the best XD
Posted from
United States -
Albelda was never hero of Valencia or even a good captain. Albelda hated Soler not the other way around. Soler spent most of his time making sure that he never interacted with the players. Albelda thought Soler was ruining the cub and began agitating within Valencia’s dressing room for Soler’s removal. it was Albelda that devided Valencia and even now Albelda does not get along with certain members of Valencia’s team because they wanted to play football and not politics. thats also the reason why he has become so soft spoken. this season he Soriano rewarded him for his political allegiance by going against the fans wishes and letting him stay at the club but Emery and most of the current Valencia squad keep Albelda at arms length and essentially he has lost all of his power in the dressing room. Hopefully his humbling and the whistles and jeers he gets when he comes onto the field will teach him a lesson in humility and that football should be kept seperate from politics.
Posted from
United States -
john where do you live.david albelda is a hero here in valencia.a minority boo him ,mainly from the braindead ultras enclosure.how can someone that has lifted so many trophies for this club and led the club by example through its most succesful period not be a good captain.
Posted from
Spain -
@ Bob,
i used to live in Valencia mate, i can not say that he was the most popular guy ever, since a lot of people were against him. I never liked him, mainly cause of his lack of talent, but he is a usefull player and i am glad he has submitted himself to the team again. After last years drama with him, he has a lot to repay, so does the club to him btw…Posted from
Switzerland -
everyone has there opinion of course, you just mustnt dissagree with me or ill throw my toys out the pram.i actually think he is one of the most comitted and talented players ive ever seen week in week out.
Posted from
Spain -
I see Albelda as a wild bull who just storms on the field try to hit everything which is the opponent. His way of playing seems pretty unconventional to me, he is so not elegant haha. Anyway, I never liked him, i like more graceful players, also fighters, but with at least a bit technique. Thats my opinion hehe, imo Baraja should have been first capitan a loooong time ago. Anyway, we are good again, lets not cause any political problems again
Posted from
Switzerland -
Albelda never convinced me too, baraja is much better player than him each on his position!
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
Bob, ha ha ha! Toys out the pram … good one!
Posted from
United States -
Good old Albelda.. does most of the dirty work with little reward. I think it’s no coincidence that our defenders are looking like footballers again this season now that they have Albelda the pitbull in front of them. Albelda has more fight and agression in his left calf than Baraja has in his entire body. Granted they are different types of players, there is no way in hell I’d take Baraja in my squad over Albelda
Posted from
United States -
Cesar, bout to hop the bus to nyc. See you manana at Nevada’s. I think the Espana match is at 245. Hasta pronto.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
