Emery confident for Schalke tie

Valencia coach Unai Emery was barely able to disguise his delight after drawing struggling Schalke in the Champions League knockout stage.

The Spanish side finished second in Group C behind Manchester United, exposing them to the top seeds in the draw for the last 16.

But they avoided English Premier League champions Chelsea, last season’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich and impressive newcomers Tottenham Hotspur.

While Schalke topped their own group ahead of French side Lyon, they have been largely inconsistent in the league this season and sit 10th on the Bundesliga table.

Emery paid the German outfit their dues, but remains understandably confident of progressing to the quarter-finals.

“Every opponent that we face brings their own problems, and we acknowledge that Schalke are tough opponents,” Emery said.

“It’s an exciting tie for us, and there is still time to study and analyse them. The first impression is that it is a good draw for us.”

Valencia and Schalke do not meet for the first leg of their tie until February, leaving Emery to focus on tricky league game away to promoted Real Sociedad on Saturday.

“It’s an important game,” Emery said. “Every game is, but this is a warning to us having dropped two points against Osasuna.”

“We’re in this situation and we know what Real Sociedad will bring to the game. They’re having a good season, and we know what a high level we have to reach in order to overcome them.”

“Starting with intensity and the solidity that Real Sociedad have, we know that if we can’t match them in that then the game will be harder.”

“What we need tomorrow is for the team to win. With those two points that got away from us, we have to work hard to make up for them tomorrow. And we have to be very tough.”