Valencia’s manager, Marcelino suffered a hamstring injury during his team’s dramatic 3-2 win over Real Sociedad in the La Liga on Sunday.
With the game tied at 2-2, Simone Zaza sealed all three points for the visitors when he scored in the 85th minute.
Marcelino’s joy knew no bounds as he celebrated Zaza’s timely winner only to pull his hamstring in the process.
However, after the match, the former Villarreal manager had time to joke about the injury, saying it was better it happened to him.
“As long as it’s only me getting injured, it’s not a problem if it’s the coach,” Marcelino said to Spanish paper AS.
“I pulled it [the muscle] quite hard. I’m getting on a bit, after all. Those are situations in which I should control myself better. I’ve come away with a bit of a limp.”
The win at Aneota moved Marcelino and his side up to fourth on the La Liga table, and leaves them still unbeaten.
It was a game neither side dominated in the opening fifteen minutes, before Xabi Prieto and William José, whose header was superbly saved by Jaume Domenech in goal for Valencia, went close for the hosts.
But two minutes after José’s effort, the visitors took the lead, when Goncalo Guedes rounded the Sociedad goalkeeper, Geronimo Gilli, before squaring the ball to Rodrigo, who finishes with a tap-in.
Sociedad almost equalised moments later, but José was denied once again, before Aritz finally equalised for the hosts two minutes later to level up the score at 1-1.
It stayed that way, as there was nothing to separate both teams at the break.
After the break, it was the visitors who scored again, after Nacho Vidal excellently chipped Rulli to restore Valencia’s lead.
But like in the first half, Valencia’s lead only lasted few minutes as Sociedad once again responded to level the scores at 2-2 but this time through Oyarzabal.
The home side were reduced to ten men after Zubeldia was sent off for a second bookable offence and Valencia’s manager responded by making three swift substitutions, as he goes in search of the winner.
Toni Lato, Santi Mina, and Andreas Pereira were sent on for José Gaya, Rodrigo, and Carlos Soler respectively with 15 minutes of play left.
Five minutes later, both sides now had ten men each on the pitch, after Goeffoery Kondogbia received his second yellow of the night, and was subsequently sent off for Valencia.
But it was Marcelino’s men who had the last laugh, as Zaza stole all three points when he scored in the 85th minute, after he was set up by Guedes following an blistering counter attacking move.
Valencia held on for the win, and moved to fourth, as they remain unbeaten after six games.
