Valencia manager praises Barcelona ahead of showdown at Mestalla: ‘A team with great potential’

Valencia manager praises Barcelona ahead of showdown at Mestalla: ‘A team with great potential’ Barcelona’s game against Valencia is set to kick off at Mestalla, and Hansi Flick has deployed one of the team’s strongest lineups for the night. With the UEFA Champions League coming up midweek, it is clear that the Barcelona manager wishes to test out his Gala XI in an official game, and the clash against Valencia is that big occasion. Los Che , meanwhile, have also put up a formidable lineup although they are the underdogs by some distance at their own stadium. Given the multiple upsets this week in La Liga including Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid losing, however, they will believe they can pull off an upset. Valencia coach’s pre-game thoughts Valencia manager Carlos Corberan faced the media ahead of kickoff and spoke on the game that awaits his side and what he expects from Barcelona on the night. He was first asked how he planned to stop the Catalans who are the only side yet to drop a point in the league. “We are well aware of Barcelona’s level. It’s a team with great potential and many attacking weapons, but our focus is 100% on our team, on what we need to deliver on the pitch, and on how we compete in the match.” Valencia have not enjoyed a great start to the season. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Coming off a rough patch themselves, Valencia enter the game crippled and low on confidence. Corberan then spoke on how he motivated his side ahead of a difficult clash. “We focus on the things that depend on us: our behavior on the field, our mindset, our desire, our passion, and our intensity.” “These are the things we can control, and that’s why we put all our focus on them,”  he added. The Valencia manager was then quizzed on Barcelona’s midfield and the quality it has with Pedri, Rodri and Fermin Lopez all starting. “Barcelona has players capable of making a difference in all areas of the pitch,”  he began, acknowledging the quality all over the field. “They have speed on the wings, the ability to dominate individual duels, and players who threaten spaces like Raphinha, in addition to midfielders who give them control and the ability to play vertically,”  he added. Corberan is aware of Raphinha’s threat. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Finally, he spoke out on what his men must do to get at least a point out of the game at Mestalla, saying, “We must deliver a near-perfect match, with high focus, and play as a single unit, staying close together and constantly helping each other.” “We must also capitalize on the opportunities that come our way, and show character to force Barcelona to defend and not allow them to attack all the time,”  he concluded. Source: Movistar+ (h/t  FCBWorld )