Valencia’s rise to Champions League contention has been one of the stories of the 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season, yet with Eliaquim Mangala on the fringes of the team, the truth has emerged about the defender’s situation.
Mangala has recovered from the knee injury that has plagued him for several months, yet it appears that Albert Celades doesn’t trust the former Porto defender enough to select him.
“Mangala isn’t injured,” Celades detailed in one of his introductory press conferences as coach.
What has been rather perplexing has been the fact the defender still hasn’t been used by the Spanish coach, even though we know of the absence of both Ezequiel Garay and Gabriel Paulista in the upcoming Champions League clash with Atalanta.
Going right back to his arrival in Valencia, Mangala benefited from his relationship with Jorge Mendes but he has been a constant problem for Los Che.