VALENCIA • Francis Coquelin has warned his former club Arsenal that Valencia are ready to exploit their fragility on the road and pull off another stirring fightback in the Europa League semi-final today.
The Spanish LaLiga side, who are owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, trail 3-1 ahead of the second leg at the Mestalla.
Coquelin, who spent a decade at Arsenal from 2008 to January last year, was suspended for the opener at the Emirates Stadium.
The midfielder believes Valencia are primed to punish Arsenal's soft underbelly - a woeful away record.
Under Unai Emery, appointed in the summer, they have eight losses and only a single clean sheet in the Premier League all season.
Declaring that "away from home, they are a different team", Coquelin said: "They drop the intensity a little bit. That means we can score goals and do damage, especially with the attack that we have."
Valencia have a superior head-to-head record with Arsenal at home, winning their past two meetings. And they have shown themselves capable of a comeback this season too, having trailed Getafe and Real Betis in the King's Cup before beating both clubs to reach the May 25 final against Barcelona.
Pinpointing their away goal as key, Coquelin added: "The team is ready to make a comeback. The goal we scored there helps us a lot.
"It will be a difficult game but, with the quality we have, we believe we can do it. The fans always help us a lot at home."
The 27-year-old left Arsenal after struggling to get first-team football under former manager Arsene Wenger and he has been revitalised this term, having been handed a more creative role by Marcelino.
The Frenchman said: "It would be a very special feeling to win against Arsenal, especially because I couldn't play in the first game."
Like Arsenal, Valencia's hopes of Champions League qualification will rest on winning the Europa League, as they sit three points adrift of fourth-placed Getafe in LaLiga, with two games left.
Chelsea, meanwhile, could extend their Europa League record to 17 unbeaten matches as they host Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, with the semi-final clash tied at 1-1 after the first leg.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
VALENCIA V ARSENAL
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 2.55am
CHELSEA V FRANKFURT
Ch112 & StarHub Ch213, tomorrow, 2.55am
Search the history of over 356 billion web pages on the Internet.
The Straits Times Audio Features - omnycontent.com
Mourinho concedes Man Utd incapable of living with Liverpool December 18, 2018 LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Jose Mourinho hinted Manchester United's players are simply not good enough to compete with Liverpool after being brushed aside 3-1 at Anfield on Sunday night by the Premier League leaders.
Mourinho concedes Man Utd incapable of living with Liverpool
Fred has warned his Manchester United team-mates they must beat Tottenham Hotspur on Monday if they are to keep pace with their Premier League rivals. United crashed to a 3-2 defeat at Brighton
Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticize him An uncharacteristically angry Lionel Messi revealed on Friday how he struggles to deal with criticism of his performances for Argentina's national team, saying that even his six-year-old son was questioning why he was judged so harshly in his country.
Angry Messi says son questions why Argentines criticize him
Man City surge clear through Sterling as Spurs suffer March 10, 2019 - by admin LONDON (Reuters) - Raheem Sterling's hat-trick in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Watford lifted the champions four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Tottenham Hotspur's challenge faltered again with a 2-1 loss at Southampton on Saturday.
Spurs prevail as mind-bending match sees Guardiola's City
We all have, or have had, people in our lives we think we know. People that we trust, that we put our faith in. People we've invested time and emotion into, who make us feel safe and comforted and cared for. These people are our lifelines and connections in a vast world of disinterest.
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero in frame to face Brighton in FA Cup The Argentina international, who is the Premier League's top scorer with 19 goals, missed City's 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cardiff City on Wednesday and was a doubt for Saturday's semi-final at Wembley.
Aguero in frame to face Brighton in FA Cup | Sports
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash The 10-man Gunners slipped to a third straight defeat after the dominant Foxes ran out 3-0 winners. During Jose Mourinho's time in
Unai Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Valencia clash
Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media coverage of female
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
Fifa study to decide fate of 48-team World Cup, Football News
- Liverpool injuries - ===== Klopp reiterated his belief that Lovren's injury is a justification for why he was right to rest players such as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino
Klopp denies Liverpool's lighter schedule is title advantage
Snowflakes? Mourinho reveals fragile ego of mystery Man United star The Portuguese coach was sacked by the Red Devils in December after a wretched run of results.
Mourinho hits back at Neville again, Latest Football News
#Real Madrid #Paris Saint-Germain #Neymar father #PSG extension more likely #Ream Madrid switch # India football: इगोर स्टिमैक ने
Neymar PSG extension more likely than Madrid switch: Father
Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha. Palace took the lead in the 15th minute when Jeffrey Schlupp's pull-back struck Burnley defender Phil
Palace climb away from troube with 3-1 win at Burnley
0 comments:
Post a Comment