Wednesday, April 9 2008 -- Ask anyone in Valencia whom they hate most and you would get to know Ronald Koeman very easily. The Dutchman's appointment in early November was anticipated to smuggle in a new era into the Spanish club but there has been renewed darkness at the Mestalla.

When Quique Sanchez Flores was sacked in late, late October, Valencia CF were 4 points off the top in La Liga and still alive in the UEFA Champions league. Now Los Che are 6 points above the relegation zone and only a win in the Copa del Rey next week would secure them a European place next season.

Ronaldo Koeman, the man they call Tintin in Spain, has dragged the club deep into the relegation mire but still the Valencia board is behind the Dutchman.

President Augustin Morera told Marca:

"Koeman is our coach and we have a lot of faith in him. He coached the team today and he will continue to, then we will talk.

We trust him and our players too who are some of the best that we could have.

We need to continue to play well and try and do better in La Liga, as for the Copa we need to believe until the end.

There is no point in dwelling on the past, what has happened has happened, now we have to work hard to improve our situation and think for the future.

We have to think about getting a positive result against Racing on Saturday."

Indeed Valencia have to rely on hope more than they can rely on Koeman. After all, it was only Hope hat remained in Pandora's Box after the other elements had disappeared into thin air. But somehow you don't get the feeling that Morera would like to stick to Koeman beyond the summer.