Barcelona and Valencia are in action in a top of the table clash.
Barcelona and Valencia are in action in a top of the table clash.

Credit to Emery in hard times



BARCELONA // Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and Valencia's Unai Emery, the Primera Liga's two youngest managers, come face-to-face at Camp Nou. Both are 37, and while much is known of the Catalan Guardiola, the Basque coach Emery was a surprise choice when he joined Valencia in the summer. Following a modest lower division playing career, Emery's rise started in 2004-05 while playing with third division Lorca. He became team manager midway through the season and secured promotion. A year later, he almost led the tiny Murcian club to the top flight.

Second division neighbours Almeria snapped him up in 2006 and he immediately achieved promotion on a limited budget, followed by a hugely creditable eighth-placed Primera Liga finish last season. In becoming Valencia's fourth manager in as many years, Emery joined a club lurching from one political crisis to another. Showing the stability of a building made from jellied eels, Valencia's warring directors continually aired their problems publicly and one player, Spanish international David Albelda, took the club to court.

Even when Valencia had an outstanding coach like Rafa Benitez, who won the league and Uefa Cup double in 2004, they treated him shoddily. The managers who followed naturally wanted to bring their own players, which created more instability. Last season, promising names like Nikola Zigic, Hedwiges Maduro and Ever Banega were purchased for almost ?45 million (Dh210m) - and they barely featured. Valencia's problems have not gone away. This week, Marca reported that they "are on the brink of bankruptcy" At the heart of the problem is a crisis in the Spanish construction industry. Valencia are building a new 75,000 capacity stadium which they had hoped to fund from the sale of their towering 55,000 capacity Mestalla home, which occupies a privileged position close to the city centre. Two years ago, Valencia were right to be optimistic about a substantial sale. Now, with construction projects being mothballed all over Iberia, there are no buyers. Valencia this week tried to get another ?100m (Dh210m) from a local bank Bancaja, which was refused.

So credit to Emery for building a side who have lost just two of their 13 league games and sit in third place, five points behind Barca. Valencia have the league's second best goal difference thanks to their customary tight defence and the counter-attacking skills of David Villa Juan Mata. More importantly, they are unbeaten on their travels, where they have conceded just three goals. "Valencia are an awkward team who have conceded very few goals away from home," stated Barca midfielder Xavi. "They feel comfortable as an away team and are comfortable on the counter-attack. It will be difficult to beat them."

amitten@thenational.ae

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright

The biog

Marital status: Separated with two young daughters

Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo

Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian

Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness

Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The squad traveling to Brazil:

Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

India cancels school-leaving examinations
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
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Company profile

Date started: December 24, 2018

Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020