Unai Emery signs on for another season and the future is bright

Putting days of speculation about his future to rest, Unai Emery has signed a one year contract extension which will keep him at the club till June 30, 2012. This would be his fourth season in charge of Los Che, where he has ensured that the club qualifies directly into the Champions League despite losing its prime assets David Silva and David Villa in the summer.


This would evoke a set of mixed reactions from the Los Che, who have been somewhat satisfied with the on-field display, but the coach's apparent lack of player control has many asking for his head. I personally feel this is a great opportunity for Emery to prove his critics wrong and establish himself on the big stage.


An entire pre-season with the "new" players, who came in the summer when the squad was overhauled, gives him ample time to prepare for a title challenge in the forthcoming season. Fighting to break the Barca-Real Madrid hegemony at the helm of La Liga would be Emery's biggest challenge yet. Though he has managed to promote small clubs like Lorca and Almeria into respectable positions in the second and first division respectively, working with the squad that he has and limited funds in the transfer market and winning the title could be his crowning moment of success, heralding him into the list of great Primera Division managers. And another shot at Champions League glory would be the cherry on the cake.


The key to success would be how he would convince players like Mata to stay on at Valencia, and make the right signings which would not hurt the finances of the club one bit. And Valencia's transfer policy of late has also been promising. The club's intent on signing a proven match-winner like Miroslav Klose despite having Mata, Aduriz and Soldado among their ranks, highlights this very ambition. Klose will bring in vital experience and adds to the squad depth, factors which are crucial when it comes to challenging for the title. A few similar signings on the defensive front (though the incoming Diego Alves adds to the burgeoning goal-keeping talent at Mestalla's disposal) would stand the club in good stead. All in all, I feel Emery has deservedly earned this shot and I certainly hope that he brings back Valencia as the third horse that fights on for first place right till the end.


My previous article on why Emery is good for Valencia.


Quotes:


Unai Emery: "I am very happy to have another year with one of the best clubs in the world. It is my intention to keep developing this club and that project drives me. The goal we have set is to improve and take further steps to make the most of our performance. We have a great team and they can give us great joy.''

Club president Manuel Llorente: "Unai has proven himself. To go directly into the Champions League is very valuable and we greatly appreciate his desire to improve us and his ability to do so. We are growing, giving hope and joy to the fans. The challenge is to take another step forward in performance and be better every year and Unai is ambitious. He has all the requirements and the confidence of the club.''

Valencia must not let Emery go

For a club ridden with debt, Valencia had no choice but to let David Villa go in the summer even if it meant making an already strong rival "stronger". When one learnt that even their very own David Silva and Carlos Marchena were sold to Manchester City and Villarreal respectively, even the most ardent Che fan wouldn't have given the team a chance to put up a fight for the Primera Division. Even the Champions League qualification spots looked bleak with SuperAtletí looking lethal in pre-season, a strong Sevilla looking to build on their previous season's Copa del Rey triumph, a Villarreal side keen on setting the record straight after finishing 7th, and there were always those over-performing clubs like Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca. 


Playing with a 4-3-3 Valencia defied everyone's expectations: they were among the top 2 in the initial 6 weeks of he season. Though normal service (read: Real Madrid-Barca hegemony) resumed thereafter, Valencia were always in the running for a European place. They have surged ahead of Espanyol, Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal to stay in third place, the highlight of the season being the annihilation of the Yellow Submarine at the Mestalla. They did well in the Champions League only to be undone by the genius of Raul in the last 16.These results look more impressive when you consider that they went in for a complete squad overhaul: having lost three of their prime assets and shoeing in 5 new imports directly into the starting line up.

The new imports gelled in very quickly: Ricardo Costa sustained his form from Lille, and has formed a resolute pairing at the back with Marius Stankevičius, on loan from Sampdoria. Mehmet Topal, from Galatasaray, forms an important pivot in midfield which has allowed the likes of Joaquin, Ever Banega and Jordi Alba to flourish. Tino Costa from Montepellier has been a revelation as well. Roberto Soldado (from Getafe) and Aritz Aduriz (from Mallorca) have just what they know best and have constantly been finding the back of the net: netting an impressive combined tally of 28 goals.

And the 'old' guard seemed to have gotten better. Juan Mata, the ex-Real Madrid cantero, has been the fulcrum around which Emery has built the team. With a return of 8 goals and 11 assists (3rd best in La Liga) he has definitely not disappointed. Ever Banega looks a shadow of his former self and has been a revelation this season with his 8 assists. Joaquin has shown flashes of his Betis days, when he was hailed as the best thing in La Furia Roja's future.  

And the credit of this must go only to one man: Unai Emery. Unai Emery foresaw that challenge and knew he had to invest to replace David Villa. Even if it meant selling Silva and Marchena. The three players combined got the club about € 75 million. The new imports cost about € 25 million. And the new imports have eased into the squad and have kept the club on course to achieve their initial objectives. He has also allowed players from the cantera, the likes of Pablo Hernandez, Jordi Alba and Vicente Guaita, to thrive. With the right blend of youth and experience, he has ensured the club meets its pre-season expectations.

His contract runs out at the end of this year, and it would be a pity to see him go. Though there were reverses against Villarreal in the Copa del Rey and Real Madrid in the league, but these are minor aberrations in the big picture. Club president Manuel Llorente must give him a season more at the very least, and in all probability Valencia will return to the good old days being the third-horse in the Primera Division.