Los Che Rising

You can’t help but feel that there is a cool breeze and some soothing classical music flowing through the Mestalla going into the new La Liga season. With a terrific 2010/11 campaign, a productive summer, and with another season of lucrative Champions League football to look forward to, it would be hard for there not to be. Despite the menacing cloud of debt that still hangs over the club, Valencia are undoubted on the up.

Last season Unai Emery and company emerged with flying colors when so much could have gone wrong. The expected drop-off with the loss of the two Davids and Carlos Marchena never made an appearance. In fact, you could hardly tell that the loss of these extremely influential players had happened. Valencia did not slip below fifth for the entire season, and finished in third place for a second year running. Coincidentally, the club’s point total and game record matched that of the previous campaign. Compared to the team from the 2009/10 campaign, the last season’s Valencia side scored five less goals, but also conceded four less. It was a extraordinary achievement.

The most important component of this success was the emergence of Juan Mata as Valencia’s new talisman. He led from the front with his poise and creativity on the ball. .

Of course, there were substantial contributions from his supporting cast. From the old guard, Joaquin, Banega, and Mathieu repeatedly put in excellent performances, while the new faces in the squad; Soldado, Aduriz, Topal, and Costa, flourished throughout the season. Of course, the importance of Unai Emery as the head of the bat can not be understated. Regardless of his managerial shortcomings, his tactical nous and ability to get the most of the players at his disposal was brilliant.

Now the new task is consolidate and push on from this position. Valencia are the de facto main challenger to the duopoly that dominates Spanish football. Sadly, overthrowing the establishment is perhaps a little too much to hope for. However, despite this divide, Valencia are primed to get closer to Barça and Real Madrid than last season. Advances in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League are also a goal given the disappointing exits in both competitions last year.

Like last summer, the club has done great business in the transfer market. Alves, Piatti, Parejo, Rami and Canales (on loan from Real Madrid) have all arrived , and will deepen the talent pool considerably. The rise of the canterano Juan Bernat in pre-season was a lovely surprise. He may have a part to play in Emery’s plans. The one position that still remains to be fulfilled is that of an extra center back. Contrastingly to the new arrivals, The group of outgoing players doesn’t look as good. In addition to figures like Fernandes and Vicente, the talent-laden duo of Joaquin and Isco have let for other shores. Most worryingly, it looks like Mata is about to join them in the departure lounge. It is being reported that a deal with Chelsea had been agreed for his services.

Whatever happens in the two weeks left in the mercado, expectations at the Mestalla will be high when the new season of La Liga eventually kicks off. Emery has decided to stick with a 4-2-3-1 after flirting with the idea of using a 4-3-3. With the dangerous army of batmen at his disposal, the Basque coach will try to use the wave of a largely good pre-season to kick-off the campaign on a high note.

Will a revamped Valencia squad be able to live up to their demands of their fickle fans?