Barcelona Suffer Another Defeat

Barca boss Luis Enrique - Getty Images

The sense that Barcelona are beginning to unravel following their third consecutive league defeat was reinforced by the short-tempered press conference Luis Enrique gave after Sunday’s home defeat to Valencia.

A journalist for the Diario Gol website, Victor Malo, asked the manager whether the physical preparation at the club might be to blame for the recent bad results, according to sport-english.com.

Luis Enrique responded by saying: “What was your surname?”

When the journalist replied “Malo” –meaning “bad” in Spanish – the manager said: “Correct, next question.”

Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Valencia allowed Atlético Madrid to draw level at the top of La Liga with Real Madrid only one point behind the leading pair, capping a disastrous week for the Catalan side.

On top of their declining league form, Barcelona were also knocked out of the Champions League by Atlético, ending hopes of going for a second successive treble.

There could be more problems in store for Barça after Neymar allowed his frustrations to spill over at the end of the Valencia game.

The Brazil striker, who had earlier been booked, was filmed apparently slapping or poking the Valencia full-back Antonio Barragán before running off towards the tunnel.

Marca reported that Neymar also threw a bottle of water at the defender, which missed, before shouting: “Shut up, I earn 10 times more than you!”

Barcelona’s stuttering title bid suffered a setback when they lost 2-1 at home to Valencia on Sunday, while Atlético Madrid moved level on points with the La Liga leaders after a comfortable win over Granada.

Barça have 76 points along with Atlético, who knocked the holders out of the Champions League in midweek, and remain top only due to a superior head-to-head record.

Atlético earlier eased to a 3-0 home win over Granada after Fernando Torres grabbed his fourth goal in as many games with Koke and substitute Angel Correa also on the scoresheet.

Real Madrid, whose coach Zinedine Zidane said in February that the title race was over, thrashed Getafe 5-1 away on Saturday and stand just one point behind the leading pair.

An own goal by Barça midfielder Ivan Rakitic put Valencia ahead after 27 minutes at the Camp Nou and Santi Mina added a second just before half-time to stun the Barça supporters.

Lionel Messi scored his 500th career goal to reduce the deficit after 64 minutes but the struggling hosts, who have squandered a nine-point lead, could not find an equaliser.

Despite Barcelona registering a third successive league defeat for the first time since 2003, Luis Enrique remained upbeat about his team’s chances of winning the title. “We’ve got a marvellous challenge, if we win the five games remaining we will be champions,” he said.

“Of course, our credit has run out and we are aware of the challenge. We’re going to approach it like a Barça player always does, with our heads held high.”

Barça humiliated a Valencia side coached by Gary Neville 7-0 in the Copa del Rey in February but had a much tougher time against successor Pako Ayesteran’s side and went behind when Guilherme Siqueira’s cross bounced off Rakitic and beyond Claudio Bravo.

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Neville Delays England Trip

Gary Neville has delayed joining the England squad for the internationals against Germany on 26 March and Holland three days later so he can focus on reviving the fortunes of Valencia.

His decision comes after Valencia lost 2-0 at home to Celta Vigo on Sunday, a third consecutive La Liga defeat which left Neville’s side six points above the relegation zone and fans at the Mestalla chanting “Neville go now”.

The England assistant coach said: “I have just spoken to Roy Hodgson and am going to stay back in Valencia. I feel it’s the right thing to do.”

He continued: “Obviously it’s not an ideal situation, in respect to the fact that before I came here I was the assistant coach for the national team of England, with 60 million people, but I understand the two or three million people in Valencia need my attention this week.

“The last thing I want is for people here to say Gary Neville lacks commitment, because it’s not something that’s ever been said about me in my life.

“Obviously I have a dual role, at this moment in time. I’ve been England coach for three and a half years and I’ve loved doing that. These are friendly matches, very important matches for England, but I also have three very important days here coaching the players.

“I said last week I’ve come to love this club and this city and I want to give my all to the club. They deserve nothing less.”

Neville felt the anger of the Mestalla crowd after Valencia were beaten 2-0 by Celta Vigo on Sunday, conceding two goals in the last 10 minutes for a third successive defeat in La Liga which left them six points above the relegation zone.

The former Manchester City striker John Guidetti scored Celta’s first in the 80th minute and their captain Hugo Mallo added the second soon afterwards, the home fans responding with chants of “Neville go now”.

Celta’s victory took them above Athletic Bilbao, who lost 2-1 at Espanyol, into the top six to boost their chances of European football next season.

Valencia, who were eliminated from the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao on away goals last Thursday, were fortunate to make it to half-time without conceding a goal after Celta created a series of excellent chances.

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Valencia v Athletic Bilbao - Preview

Gary Neville insists he can handle the pressure but has made it clear his side need to ``deliver'' in Thursday's Europa League home clash with Athletic Bilbao.

Neville's position with Los Che continues to be under intense scrutiny after Sunday's 1-0 Primera Division loss at rock-bottom derby rivals Levante, which he branded ``unacceptable'' and was their third straight defeat in all competitions.

With Valencia currently 12th in the league table and their Copa del Rey campaign having ended in the semi-finals, the Europa League would appear their only realistic route left if they are going to achieve success this term.

They lost the first leg of their last-16 tie with fellow Spanish outfit Athletic 1-0 last week.

And ahead of their attempt to turn things around at the Mestalla, Neville - who also has international commitments to worry about as part of the England coaching team - said: ``I have no problem with anything that has been said in these last few days. I expected it.

``I don't want it, but I have been in football a long time and when you have a performance like that and you play like that (against Levante), you cannot defend (it).

``I understand the fans' anger - they should be angry and I accept this completely. I said this on Sunday after the game - that we have to accept any criticism that comes our way.

``Do I find it harder to work under the pressure?

``I have been in these types of situation - not as a head coach maybe, but as a player and as an assistant coach working with England, I have been in this type of situation before where it has been very difficult and I have been surrounded by these types of moment.

``I don't feel destabilised by the fact we are working under this level of pressure.

``But if we don't deliver, then we know the circumstances, we know the outcome, we know what is going to be said.''

Neville's men host an Athletic side who are six places above them in the Primera Division and on a five-game winning streak in all competitions.

Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde told Marca: ``For us it is a final. There is a team that will be left out, and we do not want it to be us.

``They may be under more pressure because they are further back than they thought, but that should not affect us - we have the same amount of enthusiasm as them.''

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Europa League Last 16 Draw

Liverpool and Manchester United, who have never met before in European competition, will face off in what promises to be a mouth-watering last-16 tie in the Europa League.

United have beaten Liverpool twice in the Premier League already this season and will have the advantage of playing the second leg at Old Trafford on 17 March. The first leg will be at Anfield a week earlier on 10 March.

Jürgen Klopp said he was excited at the prospect of meeting United over two legs. “It’s great. We deserve these games. I told my staff yesterday that I wanted Man Utd,” he said

Louis van Gaal’s team are scheduled to play West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-finals between both legs, with a trip to Manchester City three days after the second leg. Liverpool, on the other hand, have the weekend between free having been knocked out of the FA Cup by West Ham.

Klopp’s team progressed by beating Augsburg 1-0 on aggregate, while a late flourish from an injury-hit United against Midtjylland saw them advance 6-3 on aggregate.

Tottenham’s reward for beating Fiorentina is a difficult meeting with Borussia Dortmund, the tournament favourites, though Mauricio Pochettino’s team will be at home for the second leg.

Gary Neville’s Valencia, who defeated Rapid Vienna 10-0 on aggregate, will face La Liga opposition in Athletic Bilbao. 

The other ties feature Shakhtar Donetsk against Anderlecht, Basel v Sevilla, who are looking to win this competition for the third year running, and Villarreal v Bayer Leverkusen.

Ties to be played 10 & 17 March

Shakhtar v Anderlecht

Basel v Sevilla

Villarreal v Bayer Leverkusen

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia

Liverpool v Manchester United

Sparta Prague v Lazio

Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur

Fenerbahce v Braga

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Neville and Valencia Win Again

Valencia secured their third successive win in a week under Gary Neville with a 2-1 victory at Granada.

Daniel Parejo gave Valencia the lead in the 55th minute and the substitute Santi Mina doubled it in the last minute before Edgar Méndez pulled a goal back for Granada in stoppage time.

Valencia’s victory followed their first league win under Neville at the 10th attempt last weekend they beat Espanyol 2-1 home and the 6-0 thrashing of Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday.

Granada were first to threaten in this game when the midfielder Fran Rico sent a shot just wide, while Valencia’s first attempt on goal came in the 19th minute although Paco Alcacer’s shot was blocked.

Adalberto Peñaranda fired wide for Granada in the 28th minute before Alcacer forced the vising goalkeeper Andrés into a fine save with a low shot towards the corner.

André Gomes was twice denied by Andrés either side of the Granada defender Ricardo Costa’s header at the other end, which was turned away by Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Alves kept out the Granada striker Rubén Rochina’s low shot five minutes into the second half before Valencia went ahead when Parejo drilled the ball into the bottom corner following Alcacer’s assist.

Valencia made sure of the points in the 90th minute through Mina’s neat low finish but were given a late scare three minutes later when Granada substitute Méndez headed in Rochina’s cross.

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Cheryshev Gives Neville Vital Win

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Gary Neville admitted his relief after picking up his first league victory as Valencia’s manager – but insisted it would not be a night for celebration.

Denis Cheryshev’s diving header gave Valencia a nail-biting 2-1 win over struggling Espanyol, who had taken the lead early in the second half after an error from returning goalkeeper Diego Alves allowed Oscar Duarte to head home.

That looked set to condemn Neville to a third consecutive league defeat, which would have left his side just two points above the relegation zone. But the substitute Alvaro Negredo pulled them level with a deflected finish on 70 minutes and the new recruit Cheryshev scored with a diving header six minutes later to give Valencia the lead for the first time in 10 league games under their new manager.

Although the remaining quarter of an hour brought a couple of nervy moments for the hosts, they hung on to claim their first league victory since beating Celta Vigo 5-1 on 5 November.

“I think what the game tells us today is football isn’t about putting on the best performance, but today we got the result,” said Neville. “It’s not a night for any celebration whatsoever, not to get carried away, but we’ll gain some confidence. There’s a good feeling in the dressing room and we’ll take it forward.

“Relief’s probably a good word in some ways to describe what I felt. The last four minutes can be a long time in football – I wanted the final whistle to come as quickly as possible, and I saw the reaction of the fans, of the players. I think it [10 games without a win] is far too long for this club.

Neville also praised the Mestalla fans for their support throughout the game, saying: “The most incredible bit was the fans stayed with us, they stayed with every single player, they stayed with me.

“It’s not down to tactics, it’s not down to the coach, it’s down to the fans and the way they responded after the goal. The game turned into an emotional game, the fans were pushing us forward, throwing us forward. We suffered a little bit but got there in the end and that’s the important thing.”

Neville also announced that Pako Ayesteran, Rafael Benítez’s former assistant at Valencia and Liverpool, is to join his coaching staff with immediate effect.

“He’s not to replace current staff, I just wanted to bring in someone with experience alongside me. Please don’t interpret this as a problem in any way. I’ve been speaking to Paco for the last 10 days.”

The former Manchester United defender also said he was relaxed about the criticism that has come his way. “Hopefully we’ll push on from this and get more confident. That’s what I want, that’s what I hope for. In terms of media and fan reaction, they are well within their rights to say what they’ve been saying. I’d be saying it as a journalist, as a fan. I’m not expecting to be shielded or protected. I thrive on it. From my point of view I know I’m in a fight.”

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Valencia Edge Closer to Danger Zone

Gary Neville vowed to fight on as Valencia head coach despite seeing his winless streak continue with a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis.

The loss to Betis followed a humiliating 7-0 defeat to Barcelona last week in the Copa del Rey, the club's worst defeat since 1993.

It also leaves Valencia just four points off the relegation zone and still without a win in nine La Liga matches under the Englishman.

But Neville defended his team's displays, with the exception of the humbling by Barcelona, and said he had not been given enough time to turn things around.

"I said before I came that I would be judged in five months. The obituaries have already been written, I have been judged in six weeks," he said.

"Our last two league matches were not performances that deserved two defeats, but the reality is that they are two defeats and I am aware of the consequences when you don't get good results.

"What matters are results. We knew this would be about one or two moments and they have not gone our way. The line between defeat and victory is so fine.

The coach also cursed his team's luck in the game against Betis, for whom Ruben Castro grabbed the winner, with Alvaro Negredo missing two chances in the second half and Shkrodan Mustafi having a goal ruled out for offside in injury time.

Valencia, though, finished with 10 men for the second match in a row following the late dismissal of Jose Luis Gaya

"It's clear that we are better than some of the teams we are playing against," added Neville. "That's the most difficult thing to explain. I would say that it was a tight game, that the lines are fine, but that you have to win it in both boxes

"I can't believe that we will keep missing chances and that every time there is a chance the other team will take it.

The coach was asked again if he would resign from the role, but vowed to stay on.

"There's no doubt that at times like this, everyone needs to stay together," he said.

"Everyone suffers. It's just not going for us at the moment. That was a pretty solid away performance. I continue to work, I continue to have belief. Conversations with the owners are between me and the owners. We have to turn it round quickly, I understand that. It is hard to explain the defeat. It will turn."

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