Valencia goalkeeper says that Champions League progression hinges on home games
Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez believes that his side will have to do all the hard work at home if they are to progress from their UEFA Champions League group stage.
The La Liga outfit narrowly lost in their clash with Manchester United at the Mestalla after a late goal by Javier Hernandez, allowing the English Premier League giants to leave Spain with the victory.
United is now at the top of the group alongside Scottish Premier League club Rangers, who drew against the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the opening game, and beat Bursaspor at Ibrox on Wednesday night. These wins have left Valencia in third place, a point
behind the leaders, after they beat the Turkish champions in their opening match.
Sanchez believes that the Premier Division leaders can still make it through to the knock-out phases of Europe’s elite club competition, but to do so they will likely have to pick up six points against Rangers and Bursaspor at home with tough matches at
Ibrox and Old Trafford also ahead of them.
“The two home matches will be crucial. I believe we can ensure our qualification at the Mestalla, and if we are also able to add something in Glasgow or Manchester, then all the better. It was a bad result, although the game was not at all bad. These games
are decided by the smallest details. Valencia had more chances, but they have had more effectiveness. They have a lot of quality in their squad, especially the forwards, but this has only been one match and we want to turn it around quickly.”
Valencia’s next two matches in the tournament will see them take on Rangers in a double-header, with the first match taking place in Glasgow.
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