Following an indifferent start to the season, Valencia relieved Miroslav Dukic of his duties in December. Though the Serb had been forced to deal with the departures of Roberto Soldado, Fernando Gago and Aly Cissokho, coupled with the retirement of veteran David Albelda, 20 points from a possible 51 in his 17-game spell was enough to convince the board he was not the man to lead Los Che.
Juan Antonio Pizzi replaced Dukic and Valencia’s form has improved markedly since, with the team now just 7 points off a European spot. The commendable 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening means they’ve lost just twice in the 10 league games Pizzi has been at the helm, a run that includes a memorable 3-2 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou.
A number of January arrivals, including Seydou Keita and Eduardo Vargas, have helped transform the fortunes of the club on the pitch, and the confidence Pizzi has instilled in the players has evidently gone a long way to improving their chances of returning to Europe.
Losing the likes of Sergio Canales, Éver Banega and Adil Rami at the turn of the year could have had an adverse effect, but the current head-coach hasn’t allowed the key departures to affect their performances. This is highlighted in the points per game return under Pizzi, with Valencia averaging 1.6 every league match compared to 1.2 with Dukic at the helm.
Not only that, but Valencia are netting marginally more - 1.6 to 1.4 - and conceding fewer - 0.9 to 1.6 - per encounter with Pizzi in charge, further highlighting the improved displays of the team under the former Spain international. Of course, when a team is in a rut as Valencia were in 2013, the solidity needs to be improved and Pizzi has done just that, with the Spanish side now averaging 24.1 tackles per game compared to the 21.4 under Dukic.
Understandably, with Valencia now pushing up La Liga, their average WhoScored rating in 2014 sits at 6.96, with that figure increasing from 6.8 during Dukic’s reign. However, when comparing the statistical performances of the Spanish outfit under both managers, Valencia were averaging more shots - 14.4 to 13.1 - and key passes - 9.9 to 9.7 - per game with Dukic in charge. Furthermore, the team had a better pass accuracy (83.2% to 80.1%) and more possession (54.9% to 53.6%) in the first half of the 2013/14 campaign.
Rather than improving the performances of the team as a whole, Pizzi has instead used his man management skills to bring out the best in key performers to aid Valencia. One of those in particular is Algerian Sofiane Feghouli, with the winger featuring in 9 of the last 10 games. The displays of the 24-year-old have seen his average rating soar from 6.46 in 2013 to 7.71 in 2014.
With 2 of his 3 goals and 5 of his 6 assists in the Primera División coming in the second half of the campaign, the utilisation of Feghouli when available has contributed to Pizzi’s impressive start to life at the Mestalla. Valencia may not be on the ball as much as they were under Dukic, but they’re now a much more penetrative unit when in possession.
Having either scored of assisted 43.8% of their league goals under Pizzi, maximising the ability of Feghouli has seen the club reap the rewards and leaves Valencia with a chance of securing a Europa League berth once again. Bringing out the best in the 24-year old has significantly improved the attacking fluidity of the team, while if his performances are anything to go by, the player is quite evidently enjoying life under the new head coach.
Should Valencia continue this form and maintain the same points per game return, their chances of securing European qualification will be strong. Pizzi deserves credit for the performances of his team since succeeding Dukic in the Valencia hotseat, though his biggest achievement thus far has been to bring out the best in Feghouli.
Of course, should the player continue this fine form, it’s likely that potential suitors will cast watchful eyes across to Spain, though the club will find it easier to resist the temptation to sell should they secure a Europa League berth. While Pizzi has changed little from a tactical perspective, the boost in morale has significantly improved Valencia and Feghouli is a prime example that his man management skills were exactly what the players needed to perform to their potential.
Do you think Valencia can secure a Europen place under Pizzi? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
