Zaragoza vs Valencia preview - Valencia backing Emery

Posted Saturday, March 12, 2011 by PA

Valencia say they are happy with coach Unai Emery despite Wednesday night's last-16 Champions League exit at the hands of Schalke.

The Spanish side went ahead in Germany and looked to be in control of the game, but ended up losing 3-1 on the night and went out 4-2 on aggregate.

"It was a very hard night because we had hoped to go through," said Valencia president Manuel Llorente.

"We had chances, but it wasn't to be."

Llorente was non-committal when asked about Emery's future earlier this season, but the president backed his coach following the team's latest disappointment.

"We are not thinking of any other coach than Emery," he said.

"We spoke to the coach and the players (after the game against Schalke) to try and cheer them up."

Valencia captain David Navarro also backed Emery.

"The players are the ones responsible," he said.

"We failed in things we usually do well and the coach can't do anything about that - in no way does the defeat condition Emery's future."

Although out of Europe, Valencia have been in great form in the Primera Division lately, winning nine of their last 12 matches to move up to third place with 11 rounds of the championship remaining.

"We're still third and we want to finish third," Llorente said.

"We have a very important game against Zaragoza and we have to approach it with the best morale possible."

Miguel and Alejandro Dominguez have been left out of the squad for disciplinary reasons, but Valencia should be otherwise full strength at La Romareda.

Zaragoza lost narrowly at Barcelona last weekend, but competed well in that match and proved a hard nut to crack for the Catalans.

Javier Aguirre's side won their previous match, 2-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao, and are currently a point clear of the bottom three.

Midfielder Leo Ponzio now hopes the club's fans will get behind their team in the game against Valencia.

"The support of our fans will be decisive on Saturday," he said.

And survival, however achieved, remains the sole aim for the Aragonese outfit.

"We want to finish the league where we are now - out of the bottom three," Ponzio said.

Striker Said Boutahar is doubtful for the meeting with Valencia.