Valencia coach claims return match against Rangers will be vital
Valencia head coach Unai Emery has said that his side’s home match against Scottish Premier League champions Rangers will be crucial in determining which club progresses from their UEFA Champions League group.
The teams met at Ibrox on Wednesday, 20 October, with Rangers being one point better placed than the La Liga outfit. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning that there was no relative change in their standings, while group rivals Manchester United claimed
a 1-0 victory over Turkish champions Bursaspor to move two points ahead of the Rangers.
Valencia and Rangers will meet again at the Mestalla on 2 November, and Emery told reporters, "This is a decisive game coming up. We are at home in familiar territory. Rangers are a great side, they are where they are on their own merit."
Scored at both ends of pitch
Rangers took the lead after 34 minutes when Maurice Edu popped up to head the ball into the Valencia goal, but the United States international proved a decisive player at the other end too, as the ball struck his head and ended up beyond the reach of keeper
Allan McGregor and in his own net.
Emery added that he was surprised by the attacking nature of Rangers’ play. The Scottish side had played both of their previous group stage games on the defensive, but broke the mould at Ibrox by taking the game to Valencia.
"I didn't expect Rangers to create so many chances, they could have won the game. We created chances in the second half but so did Rangers, they did well on the counter and were always a threat with the high ball. The game didn't go so well for us. For a
period in first half we weren't performing well and Rangers stuck to their guns. But hopefully, we can put that right in the home game."
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