Corberán Feels the Love from Lim Junior as Valencia Eye Mallorca Must-Win
Valencia boss Carlos Corberán responds to public backing from Kiat Lim ahead of crucial Mallorca clash, with Los Che desperate to climb away from the relegation zone.
Lim Junior Shows Faith as Valencia Gaffer Prepares for Six-Pointer
Carlos Corberán is feeling the Christmas cheer from Valencia’s top brass, but the Adam and Eve situation at the foot of La Liga table means festive goodwill won’t pay the bills. Sitting precariously in 17th with just 15 points – level with relegation-threatened Girona – Valencia desperately need three points against Mallorca to avoid spending the holidays in the drop zone.
The Valencia manager addressed the media following the club’s shareholders meeting where both CEO Ron Gourlay and president Kiat Lim publicly backed their man in the dugout. While European football was mentioned as a target, it’s clear that’s for the distant future rather than this season’s ambition.
Corberán Grateful for Vote of Confidence
When asked about the public backing, Corberán kept it professional: “I appreciate the confidence, I’ve felt it since day one. I give everything in my work each day.”
The gaffer confirmed he’s had face-to-face talks with Kiat Lim, revealing: “I’ve always perceived real involvement from Kiat with the project.” No surprises he kept the details of those chats firmly under his hat.
Injury Concerns Mounting
The treatment room at Mestalla is getting a bit crowded:
- Danjuma remains a doubt pending a late fitness test
- Comert and Dimitrievski are definitely out
- Lucas Beltrán is suffering with a stomach issue
Signs of Progress Despite Results
Despite Valencia’s lowly position, Corberán insists he’s seeing improvements: “In the last five matches I’ve seen progress in the team’s competitive capacity.”
The gaffer pointed to recent performances against Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla and Atlético Madrid as evidence his side are moving in the right direction, even if the points tally doesn’t reflect it yet.
European Dreams Can Wait
While the club’s hierarchy mentioned European football as a target from 2027 onwards, Corberán is keeping his feet firmly on the terra firma: “I take it in a clear and direct way: win the next match. Get three points against Mallorca.”
For a club of Valencia’s size, European football will always be the ambition, but right now it’s all about survival. With the fixture list coming thick and fast over the festive period, Corberán described the scheduling as “barbaric” but insisted: “The level of desire will overcome any difficulty tomorrow.”
If Valencia can nick a win against Mallorca, it’ll be the perfect Christmas pressie for the Mestalla faithful. Anything less, and it could be a long, cold winter ahead.