Emery sets high goals after Valencia victory
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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Unai Emery delighted in Valencia CF's "complete performance" to beat Rangers FC and is now looking to win Group C while Walter Smith is well aware his team have a steep task ahead.
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Valencia CF coach Unai Emery wants to overhaul the three-point deficit to UEFA Champions League Group C leaders Manchester United FC after the 3-0 defeat of Rangers FC that moved them ahead of the Scottish side into second. Emery praised his team's "complete performance" while Rangers manager Walter Smith rued an early near miss.
Unai Emery, Valencia coach
Every game is a test for us and we know we failed our previous two. Today, at home, we wanted to feel relaxed and to win. We needed to put on a complete performance in order to restore our self-esteem. The three points are important in order for us to retain a chance of topping the group.
My team played as a unit and showed great maturity against a side that defended well. The players were very patient and confident in how they needed to play; in previous games there was some anxiety. We were well aware of the significance of this encounter. What we are aiming for now is to win the two remaining group games. If we manage to do that we'll go through as section winners and that has to be our mentality.
Walter Smith, Rangers manager
It was a difficult night for us. We could have got off to a terrific start. The goalkeeper got a good touch to turn Steven Naismith's shot onto the post. If we had got that one it would have settled us a bit. We need those circumstances to go with us in the Champions League. As it was Valencia went on to do most of the attacking. Allan McGregor had a couple of really good saves although we're disappointed the first goal was a bit scrappy. Once we were a goal down we had to chase the game and we had an opportunity to cause a bit of nervousness later in the game but Valencia took the chances to score and credit to them for that.
It's a big ask for us now. Valencia and Manchester United are probably the two favourites. Valencia have a home game against Bursaspor to effectively qualify. No disrespect to Bursaspor but Valencia are favourites for that game, so it will be difficult for us. We need results to go for us but we also have to do well in our last couple of games.
