Javi Gracia takes the reins from Valencia morning with various challenges in the backpack. On the one hand, rebuilding a sunken team; on the other, trying to return Valencia to the positions that correspond to it by history; and finally, give confidence and momentum necessary to young people to take the leap that they lack and become important.
And the name that fits like a glove in this last claim is that of Kang-in Lee. The South Korean, Golden Ball of the U-20 World Cup last summer, still has not fit into the plans of any of the coaches he has had. Neither Marcelino, nor Celades nor Voro have given him the confidence to develop his qualities, at 19 years of age. Only quality brushstrokes in sporadic matches They have signed their best performances at Valencia. So I almost decided leave and carve out your future away from Mestalla.
However, the club's commitment and the arrival of Javi Gracia have made him rethink his situation. He will wait to know the role he has this season before sitting down to study the long-term renewal (ends in 2022) that the club wants to do. And is that Kang-in knows that Javi Gracia, throughout his career, he has been specialist in giving confidence to young people.
Of Iago Falqué and Aleix Vidal in Almería to Will Hughes, at Watford, to whom, at 22, he gave confidence after a long injury, as soon as the coach arrived at the English club, in the middle of the 2017-18 season. And in the last two campaigns it has been undisputed in a Premier League team.
The grace stage with more youth barn launched to stardom came in Malaga. But first, to his credit it remains to have bet on Roberto Torres, today Osasuna captain, in 2013-14. With 24 years, he exploded with 5 five goals in 33 games, with Gracia.
But it was in La Rosaleda where was his clear bet on young people. Gave the alternative to Castillejo, today in Milan, with 19 years; Juanmi, today at Betis, with 21; Juanpi Añor, with 20; and Fornals, with 19. In addition, he gave the necessary confidence to continue growing to Darder, Horta or Tough, which came after a loan at Granada. At the Rubin Kazan also gave Zhemaletdinov stripes, 19 years old, undisputed in the Russian inferior teams who had not just emerged. And he did with grace.