Valencia face Eldense in Paterna, when Gourlay came up against reality | OneFootball

Valencia play their second pre-season friendly today against Eldense at the Antonio Puchades in Paterna, kick-off 20:00 on À Punt. The club consider it their first match of the summer, after last weekend’s closed-door run-out in Girona against Petro Luanda was treated as a training exercise with an opponent.

Pre-season games at Paterna have become routine since the pandemic. As reported by AS, Valencia will stage two this week, Eldense today then CD Castellón on Saturday.

It was in the Antonio Puchades directors’ box that Ron Gourlay, as CEO of Football, first crossed paths with the Valencia support. There he encountered, first hand, the weariness provoked by Lim’s management among the black-and-white faithful.

Under Corberán, Valencia began pre-season in Paterna against Castellón then Leganés. They lost the opener 1-2, with only one new face available, Dani Raba. Four days later, on 23 July, they drew 0-0 with Leganés and the display was no better.

Supporters saw just one debutant that day, Julen Agirrezabala, and vented at half-time and full-time towards the box. Chants calling for Lim to leave were audible and those around the small directors’ area demanded signings from Gourlay, who remained in his seat at the break while other executives moved inside.

Gourlay’s expression was one of astonishment, incredulity, even surprise. He told close associates that he had been in Valencia only a month, although the grievances were long-standing.

Source: AS