Valencia vs Real Sociedad preview - Pellegrini: I don't fear fans' response

Posted Saturday, December 01, 2012 by PA

Valencia manager Mauricio Pellegrino is not concerned what sort of reception he and his players will receive from the Mestalla crowd after a pitiful performance in the 4-0 defeat to Malaga last weekend.

That defeat saw Los Che slip into the bottom half of the table, although they remain just four points off fourth, and Pellegrini believes it us up to the team to get the fans going again.

He told Las Provincias: "I don't fear the response of the fans. I am focused on what we can offer. The public, as always, will react depending on what we are doing, this is the give and take, and we have to face the game with determination and win the three points. There is not much more to say."

The Argentinian will at least be boosted by the return of Roberto Soldado and Victor Ruiz from suspension, but Tino Costa and Adil Rami both serve their one-game bans.

Real Sociedad meanwhile also had an unsettling week as they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Segunda Division Cordoba but manager Philippe Montanier is hoping they can get that disappointment out of their system straight away be recreating their 1-0 win at the Mestalla last season.

He told Diario Vasco: "It was a hard elimination to accept but we have to move forward. The dynamic is good and we need to recover the physical and mental freshness needed for the game.

"Right now Valencia are stronger in the Champions League than the league, although they can always count on many quality players. I hope there are similarities in the scoreline with last year."

Asier Illarramendi is suspended for the Basques and with Gorka Elustondo and Markel Bergara also out injured, Montanier may have to use a defender as an auxiliary holding midfielder or go with an adventurous central midfield combination of David Zurutuza and Ruben Pardo.