Valencia’s season got better as it went on. They were down in 11th halfway through the season, but a strong finish saw them move up to fourth position and means they have qualified for the Champions League.
Throughout the season they were a very tough team to break down and to defeat, finishing with the third-fewest defeats (seven) and with the joint-second-fewest goals conceded (35).
Their problem was that they drew far too often, drawing 16 times, which was the most of all teams in the division. This was because they didn’t score very many, netting just 51 which was just the seventh-most in the whole league.
The injury issues suffered by record signing Goncalo Guedes played a role in the attacking struggles, that’s for sure. But the conservative tactical approach of coach Marcelino, who was heavily criticised at points, was also a factor.
Valencia’s ‘let’s not lose’ approach to matches made them the kind of team that could thrive in knockout competitions, so it’s little surprise that their greatest joy this season came in the Europa League, where they reached the semi-finals, and the Copa del Rey, where they reached the final.
Overall, this season was par for the course for Valencia. They have the fourth biggest budget in Spain and finished fourth.
If they want to progress then they might need a more expansive approach and will need to bolster their attack.
