Gracia's 'peacetime' tasks in the dressing room

Once he completed 100 days as Valencia coach, things seem to be starting to smile for Javi Gracia. For one thing, what might seem like bad news, the departure of Kondogbia, has reassured a locker room that he had been uneasy for several weeks with the presence of the Central African at the Paterna facilities, despite being clear that his intention was to leave. This fact joined the great game that the team curdled in all its facets against Real Madrid that meant thrashing the champion of League (4-1) in Mestalla. These circumstances have brought Valencia times of peace, something unprecedented after a few convulsive months, without signings and with the resignation of Javi Gracia not accepted by the property. So now is when Javi grace has some pending tasks to perform, tasks that some of their predecessors already did. Grace has mirrors to look into.

Recover defensive reliability (Marcelino)

Valencia has received 14 goals in nine games this season. His average is 1.55 goals conceded per game and he has only cleared his door once in the nine games played. Against him Real Madrid, in the last game, conceded a goal but in the previous four he had conceded two goals. It is obvious that he must recover the defensive reliability that, for example, Valencia had assured with Marcelino. After the departure of Kondogbia, Gracia has to work a defensive gear that allows him to continue climbing positions in the table. With the Asturian, the team played with a 4-4-2 habitually, like Gracia, but had players in the center of the field, with a clear defensive character, like Coquelin and Kondogbia. Garay was the chief in defense. However, the team was trained to maintain defensive reliability and, from there, create play. The Champions League was reached with Marcelino, on two occasions, and the Copa del Rey was lifted.

Give the team a winning character (Nuno)

The Valencia has won three games (Levante, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid) in nine league games. The victories came a long way, in the days 1, 4 and 9. The team is in ninth place in the table, after winning in the three games under various circumstances. The victory against Real Madrid could be a turning point and now that it seems that the problems are disappearing, Gracia must instill in the team a winning character, just as Nuno's team had, at least in the first of his years, a team that ended up qualifying for the Champions League. The victory against Real Madrid can serve Gracia as a clear example of what the team should become. Despite being a young team, the team must acquire a winning gene that leads it to be able to compete in every game, something that this year it has done only on rare occasions.

Pick up a team that was in free fall (Pizzi)

The triumph against Madrid, together with the tie against Getafe, must also serve as a spur to a team that, after the Elche game, seemed to be in free fall. After the defeat of Martínez Valero, Valencia had three consecutive defeats in the league. The current peace and the win against the whites could be the start for Gracia to raise a team that was sunk. Something like this had to do Juan Antonio Pizzi when he arrived at Valencia, in 2014. That Valencia was in free fall, accumulating nine defeats and in the last five games before his arrival only one victory had been achieved. With the Argentine, the dynamics were turned around and the team came back in the table although it did not give them to get into Europe. Of course, in the Europa League he showed his best version, with a historic comeback to Basel, remaining just one goal (the one scored by Mbia in the last second of the semifinal) from the final in Turin.

Adapt to a team where sales predominate (Unai Emery)

The Valencia has suffered seven casualties this year of outstanding players (Rodrigo, Ferran, Parejo, Coquelin, Kondogbia, Piccini and Garay) and only one player on loan (Jason and Alex Blanco) and young people who have promoted from the second team (Guillamón, Esquerdo or Yunus Musah). Grace felt cheated But he has been aware for weeks that with these wickers he has to make a solid set. Saving the distances, because Emery always received substitutes, Gracia has as an example the stage of the Hondarribia coach, when the best players were sold every year. Villa, Mata or Silva left the team year after year but with Emery the team finished in third place in several consecutive seasons.