What Does The Future Hold for Valencia CF?

Valencia fans are among the most passionate in La Liga, and the future looks bright for the Spanish top flight's youngest squad.

I have just returned from this fascinating city, and this is what I think they can achieve this season.

NEW MANAGER WORKS MAGIC

Marcelino, the ex-manager of local rivals Villarreal, worked magic at the Mestalla in his first season in charge, guiding them into the top four.

He managed to bring the fans back on the players side after 3 painful years watching their team slide down the league table.

Valencia have not been in the Champions League since Wolves chief Nuno Santo led them to the top four in 2014/15.

Marcelino now must build on the success of last season, and have a real good go in the Champions League with a very bright, young crop of players.

THE NOU MESTALLA

After qualifying for the CL in 2015, construction began on a brand new stadium, that would replace the historic Mestalla which dates back to 1923.

However, following the clubs slide towards the relegation zone, star players were sold in order to fund the completion of Not Mestalla.

Construction eventually stopped, and in the image above you can see how far they have gotten.

Andre Gomes, Paco Alcocer and Nicolas Otamendi all left and it has taken some time to fill in those holes.

But a new crop of young players helped get Valencia CL qualification this season and the stadium is now meant to be completed by 2021.

HOW THEY BOUNCED BACK AFTER RELEGATION SCARE

They got off to a flying start to last season and kept up with Barcelona in terms of points for large parts, just tailing off at the end.

But Marcelino exceeded all expectations, after Valencia survived a relegation scare in 16/17, eventually finishing 12th.

That season, they only gained 46 points. But after selling unhappy players such as Alcacer and Gomes, team spirit and quick, incisive, counter attacking football meant it was a season to remember.

Marcelino had Simone Zaza to thank for their fast start after the Italian West-Ham reject netted 9 times in the opening 10 fixtures.

Rodrigo Moreno also had a fantastic season and was chosen over Alvaro Morata in the Spain squad, after enjoying his best goalscoring season with 16 strikes.

CENTENARY

This year is Los Che's centenary year and a new kit was released whilst I was out in Valencia last week, here it is in the image below.

TRANSFER BUSINESS

So far in the summer transfer window, Daniel Wass and Mouctar Diakhaby have been signed for a combined price of around €30 million.

I believe the club must now bring in players with Champions League experience because they could be outsiders to go far if they play the way they played last season.

The Goncalo Guedes situation is still unclear. He had probably the best season of his short career last term, and after failing to impress at the World Cup, is still on the radar for many clubs.

The Portuguese youngster will return to Paris Saint Germain and should Thomas Tuchel deem him surplus to requirements, Valencia will face competition from Arsenal for his signature.

Unai Emery brought him to Paris in 2016, but loaned him out after a first season where he failed to make an impact.

Emery was sacked by PSG after failing to take them far in the Champions League, but the pair could be reunited at Arsenal.

Last season's loan star Andreas Pereira has rejected the chance to join the club on a permanent basis after a promise from Jose Mourinho over game time.

But good news in the pursuit of French international Kevin Gameiro for Valencia fans, as the club have reportedly agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid for the forward.

I feel that after such a positive season and the fact that it is the clubs centenary year, Valencia could mount a title challenge with a few more additions to the squad.