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VALENCIA, Spain (AP) -An emphatic start brought about by a coaching change has Valencia back in the hunt in the Spanish league and forgetting the turmoil that plagued the club last season.
Valencia has rediscovered its flair thanks to new coach Unai Emery, who took over a star-filled team exhausted - mentally and physically - from last season's relegation battle. That was exacerbated by a midseason coaching change and uncertainty in the boardroom.
"The team is the same. I think what was needed was to make order in the sense that every player would know what their role is and I think (the coach) is doing his job well," winger Joaquin Sanchez said.
"Fortunately, this season we have a coach."
Valencia trailed eventual champion Real Madrid by four points when Ronald Koeman replaced the fired Quique Sanchez Flores last November. Koeman, who would guide Valencia to the Copa del Rey title, refused to field three regular players and the club won only four more league matches before the Dutchman was fired in April. By that point, Valencia trailed Madrid by 33 points.
What a difference an offseason can make.
David Villa is the league-leading scorer, while wingers Joaquin and Juanma Mata have been perfect providers to help put Valencia top of the standings ahead of Villarreal on goal difference before Saturday's games.
Villa, who led the European Championship with four goals for champion Spain, has six from five league matches. He also scored Thursday for Valencia to clinch a 2-1 UEFA Cup win over Maritimo and advance to the group stage.
"Everything has changed," said Villa, who remains at the Mestalla for a fourth season after the club rejected an offer from Real Madrid. "Part of that is thanks to the coach who has put his ideas to work, and the players have really identified with him. That's what brought an important stability to the group."
Emery, the youngest coach in the club's history at 36, guided Almeria to an eighth-place finish in its first season after promotion before agreeing to join Valencia for two years. Players, officials and fans have embraced Emery's message of bringing back unity following a season of disarray, which saw a president and sporting director ousted.
Though Villa is receiving the headlines, an eye-catching performance by Mata in a 4-2 victory over Deportivo La Coruna last weekend has him tipped for a future role with Spain, even if Vicente del Bosque left him off the squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
"I can't relax is the truth. Things are working out well for me," said the Spain under-21 player after scoring one goal and setting up three more against Deportivo. "I'm 20 years old and I'm only starting with all of this. There's still a lot to learn and to improve."
Despite all the criticism, Koeman gave Mata his debut after he had previously played for Real Madrid's youth team. And Mata has been key this season with Spain winger David Silva out with a long-term injury.
"For me, it wasn't easy to get here and see how I didn't fit into the plans," Mata said. "I do also remember Koeman, but also all of the people involved, since they helped me get here."
Valencia, a six-time Spanish champion, is the only club aside from Madrid or FC Barcelona to win a league trophy this millennium. It captured the league title in 2002 and 2004 under Rafael Benitez.
"The dressing room has changed a lot and is experiencing different sensations," Joaquin said. "I don't remember much about last year. There were so many problems on the sporting side and outside, and now they don't exist and there is a group that is united - and you sense this."
