Baraja wants Emery at Valencia

Valencia veteran Ruben Baraja has stirred the managerial merry-go-round by suggesting that it would be best for the club if they appoint the current Almeria coach Unai Emery as their boss next season.

Valencia are currently coached by Voro who was appointed as the interim coach of the club after Ronald Koeman was sacked last month. Under Koeman, Valencia came within just 2 points of relegation to the Segunda Division in Spain but Voro has successfully guided them to top flight safety.

Voro of course is not expected to linger on at the Mestalla beyond the summer and Valencia are desperately seeking a new coach to take control of the club They were earlier linked to appoint the current Racing Santander coach Marcelinho but he is thought to have refused the offer.

Unai Emery ahs now emerged as the man to take control of Los Che ship next season and Valencia veteran Ruben Baraja is perfectly fine with the idea of playing under the 36-year old who has not only guided modest Spanish club Almeria to top flight survival but has actually taken them to the top half of the table.

Baraja remarked:

“Whoever it is, he has to come in convinced by the dream of creating a top level team, despite what happened this year.

“Emery does fit the profile of the coach that the club are looking for. He is young, ambitious and has very clear ideas that he has shown with Almería this term.”

Unai Emery is indeed a very talented coach and is also very young. He is one of the new generations of Spanish coaches who are expected to alter the outlook of Spanish football in the next few years and Valencia could well do to appoint him when he is available.

Ruben Baraja of course has other things to touch upon. Reflecting on what has been a disastrous season for Valencia, Baraja states that the backroom issues need to be fixed first and then the club has to start from scratch. He says that next season the club needs to be realistic and fixed about its aims and ambitions:

“The club should take decisions and clarify the situation to everyone. We also need to know the objectives and be realistic about what the team can achieve.

“It has been a very difficult year with some things that are difficult to understand. I think the season should serve as something to look at from an institutional point of view as well as a sporting one.

“This does all seem fairly simple, but here at Valencia there are always problems.”