Dealbert last year with Valencia CF

Angel Dealbert had a press conference in the City of Paterna and talked about the coming 2011/12 season. He said this season is very important to him.

For me it is a very important year. I continue in Valencia CF and what I have to do is compete, fight, work hard and be there when the coach requires. It's my last year and it really is a very important year for me. I need to get it right, play as much as possible and must be both mentally and physically ready when required by the coach" he commented.

Dealbert also said "we should not think individually," as he believes that if Valencia is doing well, its going to be well for him also, "If targets are achieved, it will be fine for me too," he added.

He said that Unai Emery's objective this season is to improve over the previous season and be competiting and fighting really hard in all 3 competitions.

Dealbert said that the most important thing for him is to do well in the upcoming friendly matches and follow the tactics the coach has set in place in the training sessions.

He also spoke about the new arrivals and his defensive partner Adil Rami: "Adil Rami is different. He is new, coming off from a victory in the French league and Lille and has to adapt quickly, as this is another league," said Dealbert, who added that Rami is "a guy with a good sense of humor, something that is fundamental."

Nice interview by Dealbert, he seems humble, but ready to work hard and impress this season. I like his attitude.

Official Valencia CF preseason squad

Valencia CF coach Unai Emery after the last training session in Valencia announced which players will travel to Austria and there are a few surprises here, positive if I may so so.

The only two players that are missing are Juan Mata who has an extended vacation duo playing in the U-21 and Ever Banega who is currently in Argentina for the Copa America. Juan Mata will join the team on 22.07.2011.

The positive and surprising inclusions are the youth players who now count to 5 and Nacho Gonzales.

Valencia CF squad:
Goalkeepers: Guaita, Diego Alves and Adrián.
Defense: Miguel, Bruno, Dealbert, R.Costa, Rami, Pardo, Jordi Alba, Mathieu and Salva Ruiz.
Midfield: Maduro, Tino Costa, Albelda, Nacho González, Topal, Feghouli, Juan Bernat, Pablo, Portu, Piatti and Parejo.
Attack: Jonas, Aduriz and Soldado.

Tino Costa interview

Valencia has become a routine after yesterday's day of leisure on the beach, the team has again been divided into two groups, different from other days, who have done the same training session with more than one hour apart.

The players of Valencia have spent an hour in the gym, after which they have come on the field and have practiced, divided between offense and defense drills and output pressure of the ball.

Unai Emery, Valencia coach, has had all players available for the first team, in addition to the four homegrown players in the preseason and regular with the presence of a third goalkeeper, goalkeeper Adrian Junior B Lluna.

The group will train this afternoon, at 19.15 at the Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna, in the penultimate training session before being moved to concentration in Austria.

Tino Costa, Valencia's Argentine footballer, has stressed that, after achieving the goal of the third in the league last season, "the results will help Unai Emery feel more confident and try more things."

"Keep on the same line of work, I still want to progress every day, the objective remains the same. We continue with the same confidence, last year was very good and now we have more mutual respect. " he detailed.

Tino Costa who has recently returned to training with the group after taking several days recovering from a sore ankle, acknowledged a sprain injury but said, "it was nothing serious."

"Every year I get different objectives to keep improving and progressing in my career. I have returned to pre-season looking forward, with the same self or stronger than last year, the club and myself demand more this season, "said the player.

Costa has described last season, his first season at the club as "year of adaptation to different football," but stressed that he has working hard "every training" to improve "details" that saved him.

The player has stated that upon arrival to the team a year ago, he was told "that he had been one of the two best players," something that has been used to emphasize that "the players who came with great desire" and that the team " is working well, calm and with clear objectives."

Tino Costa admitted that the team "needs to improve a lot" from last season, and has recollected the knockout in the second round of the Champions League against Schalke 04 in Germany.

"The team the way that played against Schalke is something that needs to be improved in order to fight" in full "in all competitions," he stressed.

Valencia has reviewed the situation of some of his countrymen to the side, as the newcomer Pablo Piatti,  on who he said that "its very clear where he arrived and he knows that the demands are more than in Almeria."

On Ever Banega, who currently plays in Copa America with Argentina, Tino Costa stated his desire for Ever to remain at the club, but admitted that "if he has to go," I will support him.

"We became good friends on and off the pitch and I would like him to stay because we are friends, but if he has to go, I'll be with him to support him and wish him good luck," he said.

"I speak every day with and him is very quiet, he had to leave in the worst moment, the team of Colombia for example was more difficult than that of Costa Rica."

Tino Costa also pointed to 'Chori' Dominguez, the player who has left Valencia to play on loan at River Plate in a "personal decision" that Valencia accepted because Chori Dominguez "wants to feel important and add minutes" and be "big in Argentina."

Valencia CF fun summer training session

As I've reported a lot of times I really like these summer training sessions where the players get to do some interesting and out of the ordinary stuff, all the while while training. For example previously Unai Emery has taken the team on a snowy mountain resort to ski and stuff in the winter and in the summer he has taken the team in mountains hiking, bike riding and other fun activities, he has also lead the team on the beach few times.

No wonder why Valencia CF have really started the last 3 seasons very strongly in the beginning, even though their form drops after 6-7 matches.

Ever Banega to transfer to Inter?

Like in a great horror movie that's how Copa America has been for Ever Banega. He made a huge mistake in his first match in which he failed to stop a slow moving ball and that resulted in Argentina chasing a goal, which they ultimately found, but no thanks to Ever Banega.

Second match he was better, at least he didn't allow a silly goal, but again he was too slow and too static. This lead to him being ousted from the first team by Gago who actually showed great skill in the two times he played.

Inter have been interested in Ever Banega and they have been tracking him seriously, but this begs the question has the Copa America increased the transfer value of Banega or reduced it? In my article how much are VCF players worth I have Ever Banega valued at 18 million euros. He is talented, young at just 23 years old, had one amazing season to show his potential and had been pretty good even when out of shape, drinking and smoking. He is also one of a kind in Valencia, he is the only ball holder.
 After the performances in Copa America though there is a serious risk no one would value him that high, even though Argentina have still to play and if Ever starts and plays amazing it can up his value, chances of that happening are slim.

Right now Inter have agreed a 40 million transfer deal with Manchester United for the transfer of Westley Sneijder. If the deal is completed and that is looking very likely Inter are going to have 40 million euros to spend, but how much are they going to offer for Banega?

Reality is that if Valencia CF does not get a substantial offer that is above 16 million euros its very unlikely that the president is going to sell Ever Banega, especially since we don't have any cover for him and the current squad numbers are a bit thin.

Erronous post

Sorry about the last post. Lost in translation. The article has been deleted.

Pablo Hernandez interview

Pablo Hernandez was interviewed by Spanish media today in the training session. Now that Joaquin has left, Pablo is the main player for the right wing position.

On the departure of Joaquin he said: "I have always worked to feel important. I have enjoyed three years with Joaquin. I've learned a lot from him and I had to do the best."

About the team he said: "The team looks good, we are working very hard on the training sessions and each day we get better. I'm expecting an exciting season, we had few good arrivals at the club and I'm excited that next year we'll be even stronger. Our goal is to play in the Champions League, but also try and catch up to Real Madrid and Barcelona."

He agreed with Unai emery that this season is going to be tougher: "It was a success to finish third the last two seasons. Malaga is now doing a big project, but do not forget Athletic and I would also include Getafe. Of course the teams that always aspire high positions are Villarreal, Atletico and Sevilla."

When asked about the arrival of Piatti, Pablo said: "There is going to be a strong competition between me and him, but its going to be a healthy competition for both of us. Last season I was competing with Joaquin, so I know its going to be a tough competition, and I know what to expect.

Pablo Hernandez also confirmed that next season he is going to wear the number 19 shirt and not the number 7 shirt as many have predicted. He said he feels the number 19 shirt brings him luck.