The situation
Gennaro Gattuso already has the preseason as he had in mind before the break for the World Cup. The non-World Cup players, who have been on vacation for more than a week, will return to Paterna on Saturday, November 26 , to resume training for the second part of the season. And they will play four friendlies , right at the end of the week (on Fridays), always in Valencia , to rest on weekends and return to work the following Monday. Thus, until playing the last friendly, on Thursday, December 22 , to leave for a few days to celebrate Christmas and return on the 26th, already with his mind set on the League match against Villarreal., on December 30 or 31. The friendlies already have a date and rivals. In fact, there has been a change in one of the opponents. In the end , they will not play against Belgian OH Leuven , who preferred to play a friendly against Olympique de Lyon at Pinatar Arena, the place where they will establish their concentration, and not have to travel to Paterna, as was Gattuso’s express wish.
The details
The team that will travel to face Valencia on Friday, December 2 will be Leeds United U21 , which is also concentrated in Pinatar Arena. The duel will be held at the Antonio Puchades, behind closed doors. The rest of the planned friendlies are still standing. On Friday, December 9 , Gattuso’s team, surely already with Gayà fully recovered in their ranks, will face Clermont Foot, a French Ligue 1 team , also at the Antonio Puchades, behind closed doors. On Friday, December 16 , the main course of this special preseason will arrive. Valencia will face Notthingam Forest, at 7:30 p.m., in Mestalla . This match will serve as a tribute to the centenary of the Valencian stadium. Likewise, to finish this preparatory phase, Valencia will face AZ Alkmaar, fourth place in the Dutch league, on Thursday, December 22, at 12:00 p.m., at the Antonio Puchades, also behind closed doors.