Javier Aguirre is set to make his Valencia bow at El Sardinero, but he goes into Racing Santander Vs Valencia without a settled team. In his first press conference, Aguirre said he was still unsure of the final squad list, and that uncertainty has hung over the build-up all week.
That is why the search around this game is so focused on selection rather than just the result. The match is in LaLiga EA Sports, it is Aguirre’s first game in charge, and Valencia are still balancing returning names against those who remain out. Tárrega, Diakhaby and Danjuma are back, while Copete, Foulquier and Luis Rioja continue their recoveries.
There has been no single settled shape either. According to AS, Aguirre has trialled both a back five and a back four this week, which explains why the final picture remains fluid even with more of the squad available. Pepelu is the constant because he can drop in as an extra centre-back if needed, giving the team a way to switch shapes without changing personnel.
The clearest reading now is that Dimitrievski will continue in goal, with a likely defence of Maffeo, Tárrega, De Haas and Gayà. Guido and Pepelu would form the double pivot in midfield, with Javi Guerra ahead of them, Otorbi and Elliott in the wider roles, and Hugo Duro leading the line. That is the strongest indication yet of how Aguirre may line up, even if the final call is still not fully sealed.
The unresolved point is not whether Valencia have options; it is which of them Aguirre trusts most in his first match. If he goes with the back four, the shape leans into the names already available and keeps Pepelu central to the adjustment. If he changes course late and adds a fifth defender, the bench and the final squad list will tell the story of how cautious he wants this first step to be.
For now, the broad outline is clear enough for Valencia and Racing Santander: Aguirre arrives with a workable base, a few recovering players still out, and one last decision to make before his debut takes shape at El Sardinero.
