Valencia sacked head coach Carlos Corberán and football CEO Ron Gourlay on Sunday, a decision that also swept away much of the sporting department built under the Scottish executive, with Lisandro Isei, Hans Gillhaus, Andrés Zamora and Malek Shafei all departing. The shake-up follows a dismal start to the season that has left Valencia bottom of LaLiga with a single point from five matches.
With no time to plan for a permanent successor, the club turned to Óscar Sánchez, previously in charge of feeder side Valencia Mestalla, to take the reins for Tuesday's trip to Mendizorroza. According to MARCA, a 5-0 defeat to Barcelona last weekend, which prompted an apology from Barça midfielder Rodri for appearing to call Valencia "very weak," was the latest low point.
Valencia also confirmed Braulio Vázquez as their new sporting director, the man who informed Sánchez of his promotion. The Galician returns to Mestalla having previously held the role between 2010 and 2013, arriving after nine seasons running Osasuna's sporting department, with his priority now to select a permanent replacement for Corberán.
Sánchez described the whirlwind 24 hours as something he has taken "in his stride," while praising Corberán's work and character.
"When you're picking up one point from 15, it's for a reason," Sánchez said, reflecting on the situation he has inherited. "I've seen a good group, good lads, with the desire to turn things around and give the Valencia fans something to be happy about."
The 47-year-old confirmed he was handed no specific instructions by Vázquez over selection or tactics, insisting he has "complete freedom" in preparing the squad. He also revealed that Luis Rioja and Guido Rodríguez would be available for selection again, while defender Pablo Tárrega misses out through injury.
On his own coaching approach, Sánchez said he wants his side to play with courage regardless of the opponent.
"I want the team to be brave, to go after our rivals, to suffer together when we need to and to hurt teams when it's our turn to attack," he said.
Sánchez, a former Real Valladolid defender who moved into coaching after retiring in 2014, said the emotional side of management matters as much as tactics after a run of defeats.
"It's not just the technical and tactical side, it's above all emotional," he said, adding that the club and squad were focused solely on Tuesday's match rather than the longer-term search for a new coach.
Asked whether the dressing room needed to rediscover its belief, Sánchez said he could only speak to what he had witnessed since taking over.
"I've seen them today with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of passion, and that's basic if you want to turn a situation around," he said, adding that Alavés, one of the season's surprise packages, would provide a stern early test.
On squad selection, Sánchez said age would not be a factor.
"Everyone counts the same for me, whether they're first-team players or based at Mestalla," he said, confirming several academy players had travelled with the squad without committing to their involvement in the matchday XI.