Unai Emery wants better home performances
Valencia manager Unai Emery has said that his team will have to work hard to retain their position at the top of La Liga this season.
Emery took charge of Valencia in 2008 after leading UD Almeria to the Spanish top flight during his two seasons with the club. Last season, Valencia finished third in the league, and the club currently leads La Liga with 16 points from six games.
After the international break, a difficult away trip to the Camp Nou awaits, where Valencia will face defending champions Barcelona.
But it's not Valencia's away form that is Emery's primary concern. The team have a flawless away record and have only dropped two points at home, in a 1–1 draw against Atletico Madrid in September.
"We must continue working to be ready physically and mentally. There are areas for improvement to keep our level of intensity in games, especially at the Mestalla," the manager said in a statement on his own website. "We must show more regularity and more
effectiveness in front of goal."
Valencia suffered a home defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League last week. The Spaniards are third in Group C with three points. Their next fixture is away to group leaders Rangers FC on 20 October.
Several teams in title race
Emery, who began coaching Lorca Deportivo after suffering a knee injury playing for the team in 2004, helping the team to their first ever promotion to the Segunda Division, added that there are a handful of contenders for the Spanish title this season.
"There are a number of good sides. There are favourites such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Getafe, and of course Valencia. Also noteworthy are the three teams that were promoted, Hercules, Real Sociedad and Levante, and
even the sides that are struggling have good teams."
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