Exiled Trio Recalled At Valencia

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 -- Valencia new head coach Salvador González Marco, popularly known as Voro, has recalled the three exiled players booted out by the departed coach Ronald Koeman way back in mid-December. Voro was appointed on Monday as Koeman's replacement after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday following a 5-1 humiliation by Athletic de Bilbao on Sunday.

David Albelda, Santiago Canizares and Miguel Angel Angulo were all ostracized from the Valencia squad by Koeman and have been left out in the cold since then. But many suppose that it was their booting out that created most of the problems at the Mestalla as the squad then got divided.

Most of the players actually declined to follow Koeman's policies and tactics and now that he has been fired, most of the football commentators believe that the squad will reunite. Valencia are just 2 points off the relegation zone in La Liga with just 5 more rounds of the season to play.

New coach Voro outlines his reason for summoning back the three players and says:

"The three players form part of the 25-man first team squad and are like any other of the players. If I think they are ready to play, they'll play. They haven't had a game for four months and we are playing for our lives in a very short space of time.

"In addition to not having played, there also is their state of mind to consider because they have gone through a difficult situation. But I will pick them if I think they can contribute to the team. But I don't want a sporting decision to be interpreted as a political one. I want to be very clear on this issue."

Angulo, Canizares and Albelda haven't played football for over four months but they would certainly give more options to Voro as he tries to drag his team out of the reaches of the relegation demon.