Manchester United may have endured a tough start to the season but Valencia forward Rodrigo and head coach Marcelino are expecting an emphatic response from Jose Mourinho’s side.
Fresh from being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by second-tier Derby, Saturday’s chastening 3-1 defeat at West Ham made this United’s worst start to a league campaign since 1989-90.
United have won only one of four matches in all competitions this term at Old Trafford, which is preparing to host Champions League football for the first time since Sevilla knocked Mourinho’s men out of the last-16 in March.
Rodrigo know Valencia cannot be complacent despite Manchester United’s recent poor form
Valencia are looking to cause a similar shock on Tuesday evening, but Spain international Rodrigo knows the hosts will be desperate to end their three-match winless streak.
‘It’s a team that’s not used to going through situations like this, but also the way they’re made up they’ve got some great players, first-class players,’ the forward, who scored against England in the Nations League last month, said.
‘They’re not used to going through difficult situation, but I think that’s part of the career of a footballer. Sometimes you go through bad times and good times.
‘I think everyone in football is here to win and I am sure they will want to turn the situation as soon as they can.
‘I am sure they would start tomorrow by trying to beat us, so we have to be concentrated, focused.
‘We’ve come from a good result at the weekend and we’re coming here to get the victory.’
Valencia are also looking for their first Champions League win, having lost to Juventus
Marcelino echoed Rodrigo’s sentiments ahead of a Group H match that was presented to the Valencia head coach as a great time to win at Old Trafford.
‘We’ll win if we play well,’ he said. ‘Whether it’s the best or the worst moment to play them, who knows.
‘A big club like this, a team like this, with a manager who is probably one of the most experienced in the world and some extraordinary footballers, with huge investment.
‘One of the most important teams in the world in the best club competition in the world, can we expect that they don’t put in their maximum?
‘There’s no way that the previous game you’ve played can have anything to do with this game coming up.’
Rodrigo knows his side face a big test at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday
Marcelino underlined the problems posed by United’s physical prowess against a talented Valencia side boasting some recognisable names.
Former Arsenal players Gabriel Paulista and Francis Coquelin will be well-known to English fans, so too on-loan Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi.
Rodrigo was another to have spent time in the Premier League, having plied his trade 22 miles away from Old Trafford during a loan spell with Bolton in 2010-11.
Michy Batshuayi is on loan at Valencia from Chelsea but has yet to find best form for the club
Former Arsenal player rancis Coquelin (centre left) is likely to line up for Valencia on Tuesday
‘It was an important season for me,’ the 27-year-old said. ‘It was my first season as a player in the first division.
‘Overall, I think I understood about the competitive nature of football. The English league is a very competitive league, very equal and I have some great memories of that season.
‘It helped me a lot to get to where I am today, and I will always be grateful to Bolton for giving me that opportunity to be there.’
Marcelino Garcia took over as Valencia boss in 2017 and led them to the Champions League