Mendilibar praises Emery impact

Real Valladolid coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has paid tribute to counterpart Unai Emery for turning Valencia from a team in crisis just a few months ago into potential title contenders this term. Aside from their Copa del Rey success, few at Valencia will want to remember the 2007/08 season when the Primera Liga giants slipped from one problem to another before only narrowly escaping a relegation battle in the final few weeks.

Los Che were led by four different coaches during that season, but this summer's arrival of Emery appears to have sparked a dramatic turnaround in fortunes. After five Primera Liga games, Valencia sit atop the division with 13 points and have reached the Uefa Cup group stages. Mendilibar, whose team host Valencia today, said: "The arrival of Emery has been key because he has got the players to believe in him, something that is fundamental in football and in life.

"They are the same players, but they have a different mood, a different atmosphere in the changing room. Of course, the results also help this situation" * PA Sport