At Mestalla, where impatience travels quickly from the stands to the touchline, Javier Aguirre’s first home match as Valencia coach ended with neither a goal nor a release of tension. Athletic Bilbao left with a 0-0 draw, while Valencia remained second from bottom in LaLiga and awaiting the rest of the round’s results.
The hosts created opportunities to take the three points but could not turn them into a finish. By the closing stages, frustration had become audible around the stadium, and Aguirre found himself responding directly to supporters demanding another attacking option.
A strained finish in Valencia
- Valencia spent the late stages seeking a winner through deliveries into Athletic’s penalty area.
- After Hugo Duro was withdrawn, Arnaut Danjuma moved into the central-striker role.
- There was no further recognised centre-forward available among Aguirre’s substitutes.
- In the 86th minute, a supporter urged the Mexican coach to send on more strikers.
- Aguirre turned towards the crowd, gestured with his arms and replied: “There aren’t any.”
- Another fan proposed Aimar Blázquez, but Aguirre signalled his disagreement before moving away from the stand.
The exchange captured the mood after a scoreless afternoon in which Valencia had again been unable to convert their pressure into the result required to climb away from the relegation places.
Why the young players stayed out
Blázquez and Mayol did not take part in the pre-match warm-up and were therefore not options for the final minutes. Aguirre later explained that he had chosen not to place inexperienced players into a particularly difficult situation.
“In each of the six clubs I have managed, when circumstances have been like this, younger players can contribute, but you look to the senior men,” Aguirre said. “Danjuma, Raba and Rioja have scored goals over many years. The youngsters matter. Otorbi is giving everything, and several train with me. It is easier for them to emerge when the team is doing well. When it is struggling, you cannot throw them to the lions. Those are a coach’s decisions.”
For Aguirre, the draw was a demanding introduction to Mestalla rather than the lift Valencia had hoped his arrival might bring. The immediate task is clear: turn the chances created into goals, and ease the pressure gathering around the club.
