Emery preparing for Valencia's 'biggest game' against Atletico Madrid

Apr 26, 2012 10:27:00 AM

The Basque boss is under increasing pressure to turn Los Che's season around, but remains confident that his side can make a comeback and qualify for the Europa League final

Valencia coach Unai Emery has revealed that the return leg of his side's Europa League semi-final with Atletico Madrid on Thursday will be the most important match of his career to date.

The Mestalla outfit face a mountain to climb ahead of the clash at Mestalla with the team currently 4-2 down from the first leg. However, the former Almeria trainer admits he is relishing the challenge of overcoming the deficit and progressing to the final on May 9.

"It's the biggest game of my career," confessed Emery at a press conference. "It also is for many of our players.

"We have to not get anxious and ensure that we do the best job possible with only the match on our minds.

"The team have been inconsistent, and we have encountered bad games away from home, while we have fared better at home.

"In our last five home games, we have scored four goals, but what's different this time round? Atletico are our strongest rivals."

Emery then turned his attention to the situation Valencia find themselves in ahead of Thursday's match, and pinpointed Ricardo Costa's 94th-minute goal at the Vicente Calderon as the strike that keeps his side in with a genuine chance of turning the tie around.

"Costa's late goal was invaluable to our first-leg result. However, Atletico also have the potential to score two as they showed in Hannover and against Besiktas."

"The first leg was very different from any league match I've encountered. Atletico are making a huge splash and Simeone has given them a special touch.

"It is a challenge because we did not earn a result in Madrid. We start at a disadvantage and we need everyone to give their utmost."

"The fans who will fill the stadium will act as the 12th man.

Kick-off at Mestalla is at 21.05CET.

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