Javier Aguirre opens Valencia selection race with clean slate | OneFootball

Javier Aguirre has opened the selection race at Valencia, declaring a clean slate as he begins more than two weeks of preparation for Racing de Santander away on 11 October at El Sardinero, on LaLiga matchday eight.

Valencia returned to work at Paterna on Monday, the fourth day of Aguirre’s mini pre-season, an unusual mid-season window that lets him weigh every option. According to Superdeporte, he has told the dressing room that everyone starts from zero.

On arrival he met the captains to understand the squad’s reality and seek solutions, leaning on leaders without promising anything. He is ready to sit a dressing-room heavyweight if performance demands it.

Youth will not be disadvantaged. Aguirre has two weeks to pick on merit, citing the recent emergence of Mayol, Otorbi and Iker Córdoba, and stressing that form trumps age or experience.

Alongside sporting director Braulio Vázquez, he rejects labels tied to who signed whom, whether Ron Gourlay or Carlos Corberán. The club have also arranged with Japan’s football federation for Ryunosuke Sato to return early so he can train under Aguirre.

Past relationships will not sway his first selection, even with Pablo Maffeo, a player he knows well. Aguirre views Maffeo as calm, mature and focused, yet insists familiarity will not earn minutes.

Opportunities are also opening for those overlooked under Corberán, such as Dani Raba. The Cantabrian can now try to seize a place, having played only eight minutes in the matchday three defeat to Deportivo.

Source: Superdeporte

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