Former Valencia vice-president Jaime Molina was left disappointed by the departure of Rino Gattuso this week - and admits he has concerns about his old club being sucked into a relegation battle.
Gattuso left at the beginning of the week after defeat to Real Valladolid. The decision was mutual, as confirmed by both the Italian and VCF president Layhoon Chan in the aftermath.
Long time coach and club servant Voro has since taken and oversaw defeat at Real Madrid last night, which included Gabriel Paulista seeing red for a wild kick at Vinicius Junior midway in the second-half.
For Molina, the blame for Gattuso's departure can be laid squarely at the feet of Valencia owner Peter Lim. The former VCF vice-president is convinced Gattuso was let down by a lack of investment in the squad this season.
He told Tribalfootball.com: "In my opinion, as always, the owner of the club has deceived ('engañado') the manager and other managers of Valencia CF and will continue to do so. When managers ask him for new players that are needed to strengthen the squad, the owner promises he will provide the managers with the players needed…but then he doesn't stay true to his word.
"The owner has done this time and again with Valencia CF managers, including with Gattuso. It's not that Gattuso went at the right time; the problem is with owner of the club… not the managers."
Molina worked at Valencia during one of the club's most successful periods, helping build a team that would win the LaLiga twice and the UEFA Cup. Yet now he admits he fears for Valencia's Primera status.
He continued: "Yes, as a 'Valencianista', every season I am really concerned that Valencia CF could be sucked into relegation battle …ever since the club was taken over by the current owner, since October 2014!"
As for a candidate to stop the slide and rebuild the squad, Molina recommends Lim and Layhoon return to a familiar face.
He says: "I think Marcelino would be a good choice as he knows La Liga inside out and is the only manager who was able to handle Peter Lim. Also, Marcelino was able to walk away from the club with dignity, the first time around, when he saw that Lim was deceiving him and not bringing him the players he had asked for.
"In Spanish, we call this honourable behavior of Marcelino, where you do what you believe to be the right thing as “vergüenza torera". Marcelino is the only manager who understands the current Valencia CF owner.
"He left with his head held high. Marcelino already has experience with Valencia. He knows the club, the owner, some of the key players and how our fans are too."
