Santiago Canizares has reflected on the task facing former team Valencia as they prepare to take on Paris Saint-Germain.
Los Che travel out to the Parc des Princes this Wednesday evening for the Champions League Last 16 second leg, with a 2-1 scoreline from the first leg to try and turn around.
For Canizares, the ask may be too much of his former team, who he played in the 2000 and 2001 Champions League Finals with.
“In Valencia we work more with the heart than the head. Everyone believes in a miracle and they are dreaming of this miracle,” reflected the retired goalkeeper.
“But the reality is that PSG proved themselves superior at Mestalla and it is normal that they will be stronger on their field.
“We must do everything we can and complicate the game. To see if it is possible, we must try and score a goal and make them nervous.”
The French are without influential duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti through suspension.
“Let’s wait and see how much Ibrahimovic’s absence affects things. The truth is that PSG have a squad with enough alternatives to cover this.
“Their squad is vast, they are a team that can afford this, working with a big budget, with players from all over the world.
“We too have absentees, with the two centre-backs out, and in reality I worry about how Valencia will cope, with what confidence and mentality they go into the game with, rather than whether or not the other team have certain players available.
“All Coaches want their squad to be at full power, for choice and alternatives. When you do not have all the players, you start having problems and if it is repeated in the one position, as is the case with the centre-backs, then it is a serious drawback.”
Left-back Jeremy Mathieu is likely to play in central defence alongside Victor Ruiz.
“He will have to work hard because he is not a centre-back and nor is he a player of great tactical virtue, and he will need to be tactically well positioned because it will make his job easier.”
