Valencia coach Nuno is trying to put thoughts of the Champions League and a row with club legend Mario Kempes out of his mind as his winless side travels to Sporting Gijon on Saturday night.
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Having started the La Liga campaign with disappointing draws against unfancied Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo La Coruna, Los Che are mindful of the need to get their league campaign up and running rather than focussing on Wednesday’s European date with Zenit St Petersburg.
Manager Nuno was jeered by a section of fans during the draw against Deportivo, and knows his side faces a tough task tonight against a Sporting side which is yet to concede this season.
“They are a hard-working team but we are going there with the intention of collecting three points,” said the Portuguese boss, whose close links to super-agent Jorge Mendes have prompted scepticism among some supporters.
One outspoken critic of the relationship between Mendes and Nuno is former striker and club ambassador Kempes, who believes too much power is concentrated in the hands of the agent and the coach.
Nuno fired back: “Mario Kempes is a legend of this club and an inspiration to us, but he has made a mistake here. The structure of the club has not changed.”
An on-field concern for Nuno is in the goalkeeper position, with Diego Alves a long-term absentee and his replacement Matthew Ryan now also missing through injury.
That leaves Valencia with the relatively untested duo Yoel and Jaume Domenech, and Nuno said: “They are both good enough and I have made my decision, but I won’t say what it is.”
Also on Saturday, David Moyes will go in search of Real Sociedad’s first victory of the season at Real Betis, who are looking to bounce back from a 5-0 thumping at Real Madrid in their last outing.
Scotsman Moyes said: “We are travelling with optimism. Away from home we have to be mentally tough and take our opportunities.”