Francis Coquelin has hailed Valencia's revival under coach Albert Celades.

Los Che are into the Champions League round of 16 at the expense of Lille and Ajax.

Coquelin said, "This team has a very big heart, has a very solid dressing room, very supportive and in the end in the face of difficulty, always competes.

"It is clear that in the second half against Ajax we did not play the best football game we can do, but the team always defended to death to get the result and now we have another big game against Real Madrid."

At VCF, Coquelin is now seen as a leader and he added: "I am a Valencia player like the others. I am here to help my teammates and the team. It is true that the fans from the first day have given me affection and I try to thank them by giving everything on the field."