The revalued ones of Javi Gracia

At the press conference on February 26, in the preview of the game against Getafe, Javi Gracia launched an intentional phrase that went unnoticed. Even more so after the debacle of the following day at the Coliseum. However, a month later, his proclamation begins to make sense. “We are taking a step forward when it comes to revaluing players”said Gracia, without naming any player from his squad. And it is not misguided.

1. Thierry Correia

One of the footballers who has experienced the greatest improvement in the entire team. Gracia's confidence has been key. From only playing four games (259 minutes) last season has become an indisputable on the right wing and become the player in the squad with the most minutes played in 2021 (all minutes in the League and two games out of three in the Cup). The full back himself commented in an interview a few days ago that “Last year he didn't feel like part of the team.” Furthermore, one of the most obvious proofs of its growth is that the Portuguese Under-21 team has called him up again this season. Since he has been at Valencia, Portugal U21 had only called him in November 2019, so he was a regular on the lists. His coach did not call him again until November 2020. Since then he has played everything with the Portuguese under-21, even giving an assist against Cyprus.

2. Uros Racic

The Serbian midfielder is another of the players in the current Valencia squad who has shown an obvious improvement. After landing from a minor team in the Portuguese league, Famalicao, Racic came to Valencia to occupy a staff role rather than the undisputed starter. However, once Kondogbia left, the Serb stepped forward and practically became a starter in midfield. Since November 8, against Real Madrid, he has started in all but four games (three were lost due to vertigo and one due to accumulation of cards). He has scored one goal in the League (Atlético) and another in the Cup (Yeclano), where he also participated in all four games. All this has had an impact on him being called up for the first time by the Serbian senior team, where he debuted last Wednesday, as a starter, against Ireland.

3. Yunus Musah

In preseason he was only one of the homegrown players who tried his luck with the first team. Nevertheless, the winger soon established himself in the team and, to date, he has played 25 league games and three cup games. In the first of them, he came off the bench to avoid the ridiculous chee against Terrassa. His memorable career against Getafe, which ended in a goal, also went around the world. Since January, Gracia has counted less on him as a starter although he has almost always played minutes. In these months, he has gone from being selected with the English minor teams to becoming a regular of the promising United States senior team, also being one of their media icons. Valencia wants to take advantage of this pull to expand its brand in the United States.

4. Hugo Guillamón

Hugo Guillamón's contract was renewed after finishing last season, at the end of July. It started as the central quarter after Paulista, Diakhaby and Mangala. But immediately he was taking advantage of the absences due to injury of his teammates to establish himself in the onces of Javi Gracia. Despite signing Ferro in January, the Valencian remains the third center-back for Gracia and often enters rotations. In fact, He has played 17 league games and two in the Cup. A total of 1417 minutes of high competition. He scored a goal against Deportivo Alavés. Gracia's confidence has also enabled her to make a leap in the lower categories of the National Team, where she has been almost all her life. On this occasion, the jump has been great since since this season He is the undisputed starter with Luis de la Fuente in the U21. Of the seven games of the European Championship, in six he has started.

5. Kang-in Lee

The South Korean is another of the footballers who has increased performance this season despite the fact that its explosion has not yet occurred. The numbers are incontestable. This season has already, by now, 1167 minutes played Distributed in 20 league games and three of Cup. In fact, he has started four of the last five games. Accumulate a goal, in the Cup against Yeclano, and four assists. The difference with the two previous campaigns is evident. Last year with Marcelino and Celades played 694 minutes total. In 2018-19, he only played 501 minutes. In his selection he has consolidated and after winning the Ballon d'Or in the U-20 World Cup, he has already accumulated six absolute caps.

6. Alex Blanco

The winger from Benidorm was more destined to make his squad this course than to be important. And the truth is that it has been in recent weeks. Without going further, scored his first goal with the Valencia shirt in the last game against Granada, where he started. In fact, in the last month he has started three of the last five games, coinciding with the victories against Celta, Villarreal and Granada. The Benidorm player has known how to find his role as a more tactical player, understanding Gracia's guidelines, sacrificing his more direct and offensive style than he used to in other seasons. He has played 11 league games (666 minutes) and three in the Cup, scoring one goal. This has earned him the automatic renewal for one more season.