Former Rio Ave coach reawakens hope at the Mestalla
While it may have been an annus horribilis for some bearing his name, 2014 has thus far been very good to Nuno Espírito Santo.
Valencia’s coach was something of a surprise choice when he was appointed this summer - but is winning over doubters at a rate of knots.
Espírito Santo took the reins at the Mestalla after leading Rio Ave to two domestic cup finals and Europa Liga football last term. Despite his achievements, many questioned whether he was ready or able to revive a club who, only a decade ago, were winning La Liga titles and contesting Champions League finals.
Many saw Espírito Santo as a stooge; a convenient appointment made at the behest of Singapore billionaire Peter Lim, who is in the process of buying Valencia. Lim is a close associate of Portuguese ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes, who counts Espírito Santo as a client. The appointment of the former Porto ‘keeper therefore reeked of political machinations.
Proving his worth
Regardless of the politics, Espírito Santo and Valencia have blown everyone away with their scintillating form. Currently, they sit second in La Liga after an unbeaten start that has seen them win five and draw two. Last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid cemented their reputation as a force to be reckoned with - Espírito Santo putting one over Diego Simeone and his reigning champions at a raucous Mestalla.
Espírito Santo scooped La Liga’s ‘Manager of the Month’ award for September and Valencia’s quick, direct and aggressive brand of football has impressed. The way they have started games has been particularly striking. Los Ches have scored first in every game this season except their first. A further stat crunch shows that 24 of their goals have come inside the first 31 minutes of play - the ability to get on the front foot a real feature of their success.
Like his team, Espírito Santo has certainly burst out of the blocks this season and every game lends weight to the growing belief that Valencia’s latest appointment could potentially join the ranks of managerial heavyweights, such as compatriot Jose Mourinho.
However, comparisons with Mourinho don’t come easily. Where Mourinho plays mind games and prickles, Espírito Santo exudes a warm confidence. Where Mourinho is often tactically cagey, his younger counterpart goes for the jugular and has gone on record as saying he wants his team to ‘always attack’.
Perhaps more Jurgen Klopp than Mourinho, Espírito Santo certainly possesses the ability to clearly relate his footballing philosophy to players and inspire them. His players talk of a new-found collective spirit and a clarity in the way they work, while tales of Espírito Santo’s attention to discipline and hard work on the training ground also abound.
Benfica connection
What makes Valencia’s fantastic start even more impressive is that it has been achieved after a summer of upheaval that saw 20 players follow sacked coach Juan Antonio Pizzi out of the door.
Big names left: Jeremy Mathieu for Barcelona, Juan Bernat for Bayern Munich. Eleven new players came in, including Rodrigo, João Cancelo and André Gomes from Benfica. After 77 appearances for Porto, Argentine Nicolas Otamendi also arrived at the Mestalla.
To date, Espírito Santo has artfully blended Valencia’s summer acquisitions with his inheritance. Rodrigo and ‘Paco’ Alcacer have struck up a dangerous partnership at the top of the field, both receiving call-ups to Spain’s national team into the bargain, while Gomes has shone in a midfield trio with Dani Parejo and Javi Fuego.
Along with German international Mustafi, Otamendi has been a rock at the back, where Espírito Santo has also blooded 19-year-old Spanish revelation Jose Gaya at left-back.
From Portugal’s perspective, and that of new Seleccao coach Fernando Santos, the development of 21-year-old midfielder Gomes is a real boon. Wonderfully balanced and two-footed, Gomes’ displays for Benfica (including his memorable goal-scoring turn in the Eagles’ 3-1 league cup victory over Porto in April) always suggested he had the potential to be a world-class performer. A starting spot at the Luz never materialised, but Gomes looks like he could enjoy a breakthrough season for club and country - and is likely to play some part in Portugal’s friendly against France on Saturday.
Although Gomes and his coach are winning admirers now, they will know that trophies aren’t handed out seven games into the season - and there are question marks about whether Valencia will be able to sustain the optimism that currently engulfs them.
Unresolved issues
The biggest issue to be resolved is the ownership of the club, which has been in the throes of Lim’s takeover for nigh on a year. Dogged by debts of €230million and confusion regarding a proposed move to a new stadium, Lim’s acquisition of Valencia has still not gone through.
On the pitch, it will be interesting to see whether the togetherness fostered by Espírito Santo and his staff - which includes Scottish coach Ian Cathro, who followed his mentor from Rio Ave - can withstand a run of bad results. Tactically, Valencia’s high pressure brand of football is effective at present, but may need to be tweaked as the season progresses to prevent rivals neutralising it.
Valencia’s fans have a reputation for being somewhat fickle and their response to Espírito Santo when their team go through a sticky patch will be intriguing. In this respect, small gestures introduced by Espírito Santo - such as demanding that players stand in the centre circle and applaud fans at full-time - may buy him friends and time should he need them later in the season.
Negredo boost
One huge positive for Espírito Santo is that Valencia’s star summer signing Alvaro Negredo is nearing full fitness. Given their firepower without the Manchester City loanee, the addition of the forward’s physicality and goalscoring ability will be a potent addition to Los Che’s attacking options.
Negredo should be match-fit for Valencia’s clash with Deportivo on 19 October, their first back after the international break.
On Espírito Santo’s part, there seems no inclination to enjoy his side’s relative success and sit back on his laurels. When asked after the pulsating Atletico victory, whether this was his best day at Valencia, the São Tomé-born coach replied: “No, the best day is in the future.”
For the moment at least, the Mestalla dares to believe him.
by Stephen Gillett
