- Gracia talked about tumultuous season as Valencia manager
- Felt "betrayed" and "trapped" after the club broke promises
- Coach reveals he was under immense pressure
Getty Images Sport'Betrayed, deceived, cheated' - Ex-Leeds manager says he had to pay 'huge amounts' to former team as he opens up on horrific period at Valencia
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Basic
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.
Over 28 monthsSave 80%
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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
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Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Spaniard's tenure at Valencia was defined by broken promises. When he accepted the job, he was assured by the board, led by owner Peter Lim and president Anil Murthy, that the squad would be reinforced. However, these promises were never kept. Instead, Valencia sold five key players - including Ferran Torres to Manchester City and Rodrigo Moreno to Leeds - for significant transfer fees, leaving Gracia with a drastically weakened squad.
This lack of investment was at the core of the conflict. When Gracia tried to resign just months into his contract, citing his frustration over the unfulfilled promises, the club refused to let him go unless he paid a €3 million buyout fee, which Gracia contends was more. His stint at Valencia was far from successful, with the club winning just 11 out of the 38 games before eventually being sacked just before the end of the season.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR GRACIA?
Gracia has been out of job since his brief stint at Leeds in 2023. His tenure at Valencia was a period of immense personal and professional struggle, and he is likely using this opportunity to clarify his position and set the record straight on the circumstances of his departure. While the experience was deeply negative, Gracia's candor shows he has moved on from the traumatic period. He remains a respected coach with experience in multiple top leagues, and it is likely only a matter of time before he is back in the dugout, seeking a new and more stable project.
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