Rutashubanyuma
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Valencia coach keeps the faith
RivalsDM
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Updated Feb 16, 2011 8:13 AM ET
Unai Emery has faith Valencia can still reach the Champions League quarter-finals despite being held 1-1 at home by Schalke on Tuesday night.
Roberto Soldado gave in-form Valencia a flying start to the last-16 first-leg encounter at the Mestalla when he netted 17 minutes in, but Schalke drew level in the second half through former Spain and Real Madrid striker Raul.
That away goal means Schalke hold the slight upper hand going into the return leg, but Emery is staying positive, saying: "It's not the best result, but neither is it the worst.
"Schalke have earned a slight advantage for the return game, but we have to be optimistic because we've had good games away from home in the Champions League this season, in fact we haven't lost.
"We have to look for goals as well in Germany and prepare thoroughly for the game so things go better.
"They are a good team. We've suffered against (Klaas-Jan) Huntelaar and Raul. We also had a number of chances, but we're not so upset because anything that isn't a defeat or a goalless draw in the second leg could see us through.
"I'm still convinced about our chances of qualifying."
Soldado added: "We're ambitious in the dressing room. It's true that we hoped to get a positive result and maybe this isn't what we hoped for, but we've worked too hard to get this far to give up now.
"We all want to be in the quarter-finals and we are going to do everything possible to get into the next round. That's the dream we have. We can recover."
RivalsDM
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Updated Feb 16, 2011 8:13 AM ET
Unai Emery has faith Valencia can still reach the Champions League quarter-finals despite being held 1-1 at home by Schalke on Tuesday night.
Roberto Soldado gave in-form Valencia a flying start to the last-16 first-leg encounter at the Mestalla when he netted 17 minutes in, but Schalke drew level in the second half through former Spain and Real Madrid striker Raul.
That away goal means Schalke hold the slight upper hand going into the return leg, but Emery is staying positive, saying: "It's not the best result, but neither is it the worst.
"Schalke have earned a slight advantage for the return game, but we have to be optimistic because we've had good games away from home in the Champions League this season, in fact we haven't lost.
"We have to look for goals as well in Germany and prepare thoroughly for the game so things go better.
"They are a good team. We've suffered against (Klaas-Jan) Huntelaar and Raul. We also had a number of chances, but we're not so upset because anything that isn't a defeat or a goalless draw in the second leg could see us through.
"I'm still convinced about our chances of qualifying."
Soldado added: "We're ambitious in the dressing room. It's true that we hoped to get a positive result and maybe this isn't what we hoped for, but we've worked too hard to get this far to give up now.
"We all want to be in the quarter-finals and we are going to do everything possible to get into the next round. That's the dream we have. We can recover."
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