Barcelona 1-2 Valencia: Copa del Rey winners thank Marcelino for making them a force again, while Barca question the authority of Ernesto Valverde
Its said that domestic cup finals arent given the importance they once had, but Valencia captain Dani Parejo obviously didnt get the memo. As the midfielder hobbled, tears streaming down his face, to collect the Copa del Rey from the King of Spain and lift Los Ches first trophy in 11 years, the picture the midfielder painted was anything but passive.Beyond the individual emotions, cup finals can still be significant in their pivotal nature. That was the case the last time someone upset one of LaLigas big two in the Copa del Rey, back in 2013, when Atltico Madrid beat Real Madrid in their own backyard and fired of a warning shot that showed it could be time to take the Colchoneros seriously again as a domestic force. A prophecy that was fulfilled one year later when they won LaLiga against all the odds.
Getty Images - Getty
4Valencia pulled off an almighty shock to crush Barcelona’s double dreamEqually, Valencias 2-1 win over Bara feels like a point of inflection in a number of ways. Most obviously, it is a key marker for the victors, certifying their most successful season since the golden era of Rafa Benitez, making 2019 a year in which Champions League football, a domestic trophy and a European semi-final were all achieved.Valencia have a squad built to achieve big things, and in the year of the clubs centenary the pressure to fulfil that potential and deliver silverware was huge. The expectations resting on the long misfiring club in Spains third city on this landmark year should not be underestimated. Their players and coach will have been reminded of it every day, in every human reaction they have. Parejos choked up comments, pitchside at final whistle, provided a glimpse into that weight.
Getty Images - Getty
4Messi pulled one back but it was not enough following a disastrous first-halfIve been at this club for eight years, and there have been really tough years. A club of Valencias size deserves far more joyous occasions like this. Weve made history in a huge year for us, our centenary, the captain remarked.Only four months ago, 2019 looked like it would be another of those tough years for Valencia. In January, when they sat an embarrassing 12th in the league table, Marcelinos position was in serious doubt. But Parejo led the rallying cry, sending a message from the dressing room to the people upstairs. Embracing his coach during a match against Valladolid for the eyes of the world to see, the next day he hammered home the message, insisting that a season shouldnt be treated as lost in January, and that there was ‘time and hunger necessary to reach our goals’. With the players as his shield, Marcelino wasnt sacked. Valencia ultimately finished fourth, and they are now cup winners. All thanks to the backing of a squad that fully bought into the ideas being sold by their coach, to the extent that they were prepared to put their own necks on the line to save his. Based on their resilience this year, they could yet push on to achieve even bigger things in 2020.Will Barcelonas players be prepared to stick out their necks for their own boss? Ernesto Valverde has just defended the league title, but following an era of dominance the expectations at the Camp Nou are so huge that the Blaugrana head has undoubtedly been hurt by Saturdays defeat, compounding the damage done by their slip-up against Liverpool. If Valencias win was a turning point in the right direction, then Barcelonas loss could be the one that sends Valverde in the other.
Getty Images - Getty
4Marcelino is doing a remarkable job with Valencia, making them a force once moreMuch like the way they let the Champions League final slip through their fingers at Anfield, it is the manner in which Barcelona lost against Valencia which really raises the alarm. Look no further than the three remnants of their greatest team ever for evidence: it is not often than Sergio Busquets repeatedly gives the ball away, Gerard Piqu sends a switch of play straight out for an opposition throw, and Lionel Messi fails to find Jordi Alba on the overlap with a diagonal pass he has completed countless times before.But that is exactly what happened to Bara in their disastrous first half this weekend. A mad 45 minutes to match a mad 45 minutes in Anfield, and a mad 45 minutes in Rome the year before. Three times where Barcelonas players just didnt look like they were buying whatever their coach was trying to sell. Valencias determination and commitment until the end in Seville was a stark contrast.
Getty Images - Getty
4Valverde’s future is a source of constant speculation, could he go this summer?Piqus post-match flash interview on Saturday was telling. Handed the chance to give the vote of confidence to his superior, the centre-back stopped somewhere halfway. You have to do an individual analysis on everyone, what we can improve. The future of the coach doesnt depend on us. We have a long summer to analyse and see what we can do better.Compare that to Parejos human shield of Marcelino back in the winter, and draw your own conclusions. While the Copa del Rey winners now look to be at the start of something special, the resurgence of one of Spains sleeping giants finally kicking off thanks to backing the right manager for the right time, the losers have a tough call to make. Faced with a summer of some considerable transition against a backdrop of criticism, is it time to intervene, or does their manager have the authority necessary to weather the storm?
Tottenham have agreed a "contingency" plan to play the rest of this season's home games at Wembley if their new stadium continues to face delays. Spurs' remaining Premier League fixtures after the
Tottenham new stadium update: Premier League want Spurs to
A pooch came to one goalkeeper's rescue Sunday in Argentina, and the puns that come immediately to mind woof.
Stray Dog Comes to Argentinian Goalkeeper's Rescue, Saves a
Everton youngster Kieran Dowell will reject a loan switch to Rangers next month in favour of a similar move to an English club, according to Football Insider.. Midfielder Dowell, 21, is set to leave Goodison Park in the January transfer window. on a temporary basis, having been limited to just two Carabao Cup appearances this term.
Kieran Dowell to Rangers - Michael Ball says Everton starlet
Where does James Milner fit in with Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs? admin Sports No Comments Liverpool's James Milner is now part of a very exclusive Premier League club.
List of Premier League players with 500 or more appearances
Tottenham will send scouts to go watch Werder Bremen forward Max Kruse, as they prepare for a possible summer bid. Spurs scouts will travel to Germany this weekend to watch the German forward in
Report: Tottenham interested in experienced striker - backup
Tottenham Hotspur news: Harry Kane becomes first player to
Everton had to dig deep to secure a defeat of Bournemouth which ends their recent run of poor results at Goodison Park. The Toffees headed into Sunday's match-up without a win in any of their previous four Premier League matches at their historic home, but they got back to winning ways thanks to goals from on-loan Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma and young attacker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Toffees win hard-fought battle of
trueobserver.com/news/2019/01/13/everton-2-0-bournemouth-toffees-win-hard-fought-battle-of-mid-table-mediocrity
Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: Toffees win hard-fought battle of mid-table mediocrity. Posted on:January 13, 2019 Marco Silva's side triumphed at Goodison Park to end their
Women's World Cup: France, the heartbeat of women's football
Fc BarceLona News. About. accueil
FOOTBALL INSIDER- the football secrets and tips revealed.
footyinsider.weebly.com/premeirla-liga.html
The biggest encouragement to Chelsea's rivals in the title race is the Blues' over-reliance on Diego Costa. The 26-year-old leads the scoring chart with nine goals but is bound to need a rest at some stage after Jose Mourinho admitted he is hardly training, owing to a nagging hamstring injury. This is where Drogba comes in.
Talksport understand that Chelsea are considering a summer move for Everton forward Richarlison. The Blues are eyeing up potential replacements for Eden Hazard, who remains strongly linked with a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid. They were interested in Richarlison while he was at Watford, though
Everton news and transfers RECAP - Richarlison shines for Brazil
FA Cup: West Bromwich Albion 1-3 Brighton and Hove Albion highlights. Glenn Murray came off the bench to score twice as Brighton reached the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of West Brom.
West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton and Hove Albion on 06 Feb 19
21.26 BST: With Ajax bracing for a summer of bids for their biggest stars, AS reports that the Amsterdam outfit are readying a €20m bid for Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard, who's impressed
Transfer Talk -- Fadamel Falcao prove Luis van Gaal Man
Five of the Reasons why Chelsea's season has fallen apart. Five reasons why being a Chelsea fan this season has been so bad. Mike Dean to M1ke Deanbot- How far off AI referees are we?
Five reasons Chelsea should have seen Sarri mess coming
0 Comments