Valencia closed the preseason with good feelings in the preparation games that it has played in this period in which it has been competitive and solid in defense especially, although the Mestalla club has not made any signings with which to make up for the important casualties that has suffered.
The departure of heavyweight players such as Daniel Parejo or Francis Coquelin have had no response in the form of signings to replace them in the Valencian squad due to the precarious economic situation in which the club finds itself after failing to qualify for European competition in the past season.
Despite this situation, Valencia's new coach, Javi Gracia, has managed to put together a solid team as seen in the four friendly matches he has played in which he has beaten Castellón (1-0), Villarreal (2 -1) and Cartagena (3-1) and tied with Levante (0-0).
In these matches, the defensive firmness exhibited by Gracia's team has stood out, as well as a competitiveness that has led them to overcome the scoreboard against Villarreal and Cartagena after overtaking the rival.
Despite the caution with which these friendly matches must be taken, the outlook is less bleak than it was at the end of last season and at the start of the preseason, although the absence of reinforcements seven days after starting the League with the derby against Levante raises many doubts regarding a squad that this season will only face the league championship and the Copa del Rey.
From the club and its owner, Peter Lim, it is intended that the players from the quarry have a greater role in the absence of signings of older players and during the pre-season games the potential of the Valencian academy has been calibrated with many minutes for several of them.
In addition, footballers like Carlos Soler or Geoffrey Kondogbia are called to have a greater weight in the team than in the past year, while others like the Korean Kang In must take the final step in their consecration in the elite if Valencia wants to aspire to be a protagonist in the League that begins next weekend.