Valencia regroup for Madrid challenge

As the rumours continue to fly as to who will replace Quique Sánchez Flores as coach of Valencia CF, reserve-team coach Óscar Fernández will hope to focus minds for 90 minutes at least on the visit of Real Madrid CF tonight.

'Courageous and daring'
Debuts do not come much more difficult than against the Primera División leaders, but the 33-year-old Fernández has embraced the challenge. "My team will be courageous and daring against Madrid," he said. "I know our opponents are a great team with great players and a great coach, but we're Valencia and nothing can stop us."

Deep end
Sánchez Flores was dismissed after Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Sevilla FC which followed a surprise loss to Rosenborg BK in the UEFA Champions League. If Fernández has been thrown in at the deep end, he admits there is little he can do at this stage to reverse his side's fortunes. "I can't change the team's personality in two days as I know I'm only here provisionally and that my job is to coach the youngsters," he said.

Seven injuries
Ronald Koeman is favourite to succeed Sánchez Flores and is reported to have agreed terms with Valencia. Whoever comes in will be hoping for a bit more luck than the outgoing coach had with injuries. Edu, Manuel Fernandes, David Villa, Santiago Cañizares, Rubén Baraja, Carlos Marchena and Vicente Rodríguez will all be missing against Madrid.

Madrid upbeat
History too is against Valencia – former coaches Guus Hiddink, Antonio López and Claudio Ranieri all debuted against the Merengues and lost, and Madrid have not been defeated at the Mestalla since 2003. With Fabio Cannavaro, Mahamadou Diarra and Gabriel Heinze available again, coach Bernd Schuster will be confident of success, yet is not underestimating the task ahead. Valencia are fourth in the table, four points off the pace set by the visitors, and Schuster is aware of what they are capable.

'Complicated'
"The match is now more complicated after Quique's departure," Schuster said. "I don't think the results justified sacking him. He didn't deserve that. But we're playing like a great team and when we need to, we slip into top gear, like Roger Federer does. This is a tough week so we have to rotate players, let some rest and use others that are fresher," added Schuster, with one eye on Saturday's meeting with Sevilla.