Kang-in, Cillessen and Correia: The 'hopes' of Javi Gracia

Valencia's victory against Celta de Vigo left several positive short-term readings that They allow Valencia to catch some air with the descent, which is already 6 points away. However, in the long term, Javi Gracia did not hide that he has “high hopes for the end of the season“all this despite the fact that Europe is still 9 points behind. For that European dream to which has not yet resigned from the locker room, the triumph on Saturday at Mestalla left three proper names that, without a doubt, can solve many of the problems that the team has and that have weighed down to this day: the goals conceded, the absence of play and the fragility on the right wing.

Jasper Cillessen and the goals conceded

Seven months later and two injuries in between (a fibrillar and another that forced him to undergo surgery), Jasper Cillessen put his boots back on in an official match. “All the work I've done has been for this, to play again: the double sessions for many weeks, the extra work with the physios etc. It's a very special day for me I have felt the strength of my friends, my family and the whole club “said the goalkeeper at the end of a meeting in which he left a clean sheet.

What a doubt that the return of Cillessen to the finish line that brings a leap in quality and experience to one of the teams that has suffered the most goals this season (32 in 24 days). And even though Jaume Doménech is not solely responsible that the rivals see the goal with extreme ease, the Valencian was the goalkeeper who most stopped in LaLiga, the Dutchman yesterday caught a remarkable meeting in which gave security to the rear and even saved a shot from Hugo Mallo daring to leave the small area.

Cillessen is a key weapon to aspire to greater goals than fighting for relegation and he himself acknowledged after the game that you have to look up: “You have to win, being 100% we have a good team and we have to continue at full capacity.”

Kang-in Lee and the creation of play

The Kang-in Lee case is more than curious: he started the season as the undisputed starter and two assists in the first LaLiga game, slowly He disappeared of the alignments and yesterday he returned to give a hit on the table. Goal assist on the sidelines, Kang-in's party had absolutely everything: his pass caused the expulsion of Rubén Blanco, was the player who more bargained of the party (8) with actions that included roulettes and pipes, and was key in construction of game to the point that he delayed his position almost at the level of Carlos Soler (“we have delayed his position to have a safe and fluid circulation)” said Gracia at the end of the match).

Read what He was not a starter since January 21, added his fourth assist of the season and was determined to turn his team dynamic around. South Korean has had its pluses and minuses with Javi Gracia this season, who, although he has given minutes, has shown less confidence in him than expected in the estates of the club. In favor of the Navarrese, it is worth saying that in many appointments Lee's entry to the field of play as a shock has not changed practically anything and that in sections of the year has been somewhat apatheticHowever, the reality is that whenever Lee is the protagonist, the team wins: Of the 6 victories achieved in LaLiga 5 of them have been in the matches that Kang has started.

Correia and fragility on the right

A separate case is that of Thierry Correia. Leaving aside the controversy of his signing and the 12 million it cost for which he is not responsible, the performance of the Portuguese against Celta was remarkable high. 'Titi 'recovered eight balls, in attack was a permanent solution that gave depth and his was the assistance to Gameiro in the second goal, after a nice individual action.

after one terrible performance against Real Madrid and when many voices pointed to a possible 'bench', Gracia again bet on him and the Portuguese responded. Unlike Lee and Cillessen, Correia is problem and solution for the defensive fragility of your team. His lack of concentration has condemned the Che in games like against Getafe, but against Celta a serious face was seen that without being outstanding would solve many of the problems of Gracia.