MADRID • Valencia coach Marcelino knows that if his team were to have any chance of beating Barcelona, they must first stop Lionel Messi.
Ahead of today's King Cup's final in Seville, the Spaniard did not reveal his exact game plan but warned his players that they will have to nullify the threat of the Argentinian superstar forward at all costs.
"The key is giving Messi little to do in the game," Marcelino said, as reported by Spanish daily Marca.
"The problem is that although he appears sparingly, his actions have a decisive influence."
Striker Kevin Gameiro, who scored 11 goals in all competitions this season (Messi has 50), added: "With Messi, Barcelona are never easy to beat. But we can't afford to play with fear of what's in front of us. Do that and you lose."
Valencia, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, last won the King's Cup 11 years ago when Fernando Morientes scored in a 3-1 victory over Getafe in a stadium that no longer exists. That was the last trophy the club hoisted in any competition.
After 15 games this season, they sat 15th in the Spanish LaLiga, a battle against relegation more likely than a late push for the top four.
2008
The last time Valencia won the King's Cup.
"I can't explain it," said Marcelino, who was the club's 12th coach in five years. But, this time, the club persevered and his team's form returned.
They made the Europa League semi-finals, where they were beaten by Arsenal, and then saw off Valladolid last Saturday to reach next season's Champions League.
The result may not be remarkable - they made it last year, too - but it was the way they did it. Unlike Barcelona, the adversity enhanced the achievement.
"It has been an outstanding season," added Marcelino. "We have had a lot of problems, but we stayed calm. To get back into the Champions League again is a great achievement."
For LaLiga champions Barcelona, a fifth consecutive King's Cup will amount to just damage limitation if they beat Valencia.
Victory for Barca would only slightly alleviate the disappointment of failing in the Champions League. But, should they lose, less than three weeks after the collapse at Liverpool, it would plunge the club back into crisis.
The numbers, however, favour Barcelona. Twenty-six points separate the two sides in the LaLiga table, with Barca scoring more goals than Valencia have scored and let in put together.
Valencia captain Dani Parejo finished as their top scorer with nine league goals, the same number Messi had hit before the middle of November. And Valencia have beaten Barcelona only once in 14 attempts, without a victory in any of their last eight meetings.
But, while Barca look like a side still hurting and eager to end the season, Valencia are flying high after the late surge that saw them snatch fourth place last Saturday.
"We weren't playing for anything and it showed," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde after the 2-2 draw away at Eibar on Sunday.
"In Seville, we will be completely different."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
LAUSANNE (AFP) - Manchester City have launched a legal bid to stop Uefa banning them from the 2020-2021 Champions League, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Manchester City appeals possible UEFA Champions League ban
Real Madrid end campaign with 12th league defeat who was given a rousing reception from supporters in what was believed to be his last game for the club. BALE LEFT ON BENCH Keylor played
La Liga: Real Madrid end campaign with 12th league defeat
Spurs lost 1-0 to Manchester City three days after Sissoko picked up a groin injury in the second leg of their stunning Champions League quarter-final victory over Pep Guardiola's men and
Landon Fox Hired to Lead Valpo Football Program
Football: Guardiola stays cool despite shock Man City defeat MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he was not disappointed by his players' effort despite suffering a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday (Dec 22).
Guardiola Stays Cool Despite Shock Manchester City Defeat
SINGAPORE - After a seven-month wait, the Lions will play at the National Stadium again, and also welcome a new ringmaster. The Straits Times understands that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) will unveil Tatsuma Yoshida as the new national coach this week, after announcing on Monday (May 27) two international friendlies against Solomon Islands on June 8 and Myanmar on June 11.
Asian NT Friendly matches 2019 | BigSoccer Forum
(REUTERS) - Chelsea kept up their pursuit of the Premier League's top three clubs with a 1-0 win away to London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday (Dec 30), thanks to a strike by N'Golo Kante early
Football: Kante strike the difference as Chelsea beat Crystal
"This is the job that I always dreamt of doing and I'm beyond excited to have the chance to lead the club long-term and, hopefully, deliver the continued success that our amazing fans deserve," said Solskjaer in a club statement. "From the first day I arrived, I felt at home at this special club.
adjectives - "continuing success" VS "continued success
Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is set to be appointed as the new Inter Milan manager. Italian Conte, 49, has been out of the game since he was sacked by Chelsea last July, ending a
Ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte confirmed as new Inter Milan
Watch Chicago Cubs MLB live stream - NBC Sports
stream.nbcsports.com/rsn/nbcs-chicago-cubs
How to watch the Chicago Cubs MLB live streams
How to Watch Cubs Games Online Without Cable 2019 | Heavy.com
Everton avoided a third consecutive English Premier League home defeat as Kurt Zouma's header and a late goal by Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned them a flattering 2-0 victory over Bournemouth. At a rainy Goodison Park on Sunday in Liverpool, there were grumblings of discontent from the home fans as
Everton ride luck for 2-0 home victory over Bournemouth
Welcome! Log into your account. your username. your password
Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought - sports.yahoo.com
In what is a major coup, Kerala Blasters have announced the signing of former Manchester United defender Wes Brown for the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL). The defender has made a
Wes Brown - Wikipedia
Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed fears after limping off during Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Monday night amid claims of a hamstring injury. In the 31st minute, the 34-year-old Juventus forward suddenly stopped running and griped his thigh, with Portugal chasing the game after a Dusan Tadic penalty goal handed Serbia the lead.
Zinedine Zidane allays fears over Cristiano Ronaldo injury
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live stream uk
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live india
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch usa soccer live stream
watch premier league darts live stream
watch premier league live stream hd
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer live stream app
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch live english premier league online free streaming
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch soccer games live stream free
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch champions league live streaming now
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch epl live streaming on iphone
tv soccer live stream sky
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer game live now
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch soccer aid live stream
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch live soccer stream android
watch indian premier league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch us soccer live stream
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch champions league final live streaming
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch premier league live streaming live
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
#manchestercity #Sunday #zidane #soccer #livesports #tokyo #golazo #freekickerz #freekick #mane #firmino #footballdubai #cristiano #goodday #kickoff #freekicks #roadtrip #championship #henderson #midnight #fcbarcelona #kroenkeout #MSport #soccermemes #Liamgallagher #soccer #messi #lovefootball #leomessi #MyDubai #footballstreaming #villarealcf #ignoranza #lionelmessi #trollfootball #serieatim #elcasico #Vip45 #liverpool #comico #football #vandijk #coyg #premierleague #24x7 #kopisusu #alissonbecker #rockstar #crossfit #ronaldo #footballmemes #frasirap #pagani #lfc #cristianoronaldo #bayernmunich #mancityvsliverpool #oasisofficial #bundesliga #chocolatecoffee #seriea #premierleague #manchestercity #londoncity #adidasslipon #coffeebreak #hotcoffee #beatifulgame #portsmouthfc #footballfans
No comments:
Post a Comment