Voro's steady hands steer Valencia into calmer waters

Valencia coach Salvador "Voro" Gonzalez said his team was more settled and confident after the win over Leganes on Tuesday (Feb 28). PHOTO: EPA

VALENCIA • Valencia coach Salvador "Voro" Gonzalez hailed his team's performance and said that they are now more settled and confident after a 1-0 Spanish Primera Liga win over Leganes on Tuesday.

The Spaniard has already steadied the ship, following the resignation of his Italian predecessor Cesare Prandelli in December, after just 10 games in charge.

Valencia, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, were fighting against relegation then but their latest victory - a third successive home win - has propelled them up to 12th place in the table.

"We have had lows but overall the team have had control of the match," Voro said at his post-match conference at the Mestalla Stadium.

"The aim at home was to change the dynamics and we have three victories in a row.

"The team are more settled and have more confidence.

"We have taken a step in search of our objectives and I think we're seeing the team grow.

"We are not going to lower our performances. I'm sure we're going to compete until the end."

Eliaquim Mangala, the on-loan Manchester City defender, scored his first goal of the campaign in the 29th minute, a strike which proved to be the winner.

The 26-year-old Frenchman last scored a club goal in 2013-2014, when he was playing for Portuguese side Porto.

All hopes of a Leganes equaliser were then diminished 10 minutes from the final whistle when midfielder Alberto was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

Voro, who was appointed by Valencia until the end of the season, preferred to remain grounded when asked about his future.

"I do not consider a (contract) renewal, I think only about the day to day," the 53-year-old said.

"My future is not important. It is not important for the club to talk about the future of the coach.

"That does not concern me at all. First we will definitely be out of relegation and we will go day by day."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 02, 2017, with the headline Voro's steady hands steer Valencia into calmer waters. Subscribe