Tinkerman under pressure in Valencia

Under-pressure Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri has received the dreaded vote of confidence from club president Juan Soler.

Ranieri rang the changes to his starting line-up on Saturday night - dispensing with his two wide midfielders to play a diamond formation against Real Zaragoza.

But the former Chelsea manager’s new tactics did not pay off, as Valencia could only struggle to a turgid goalless draw in a game where his strikers were caught offside on no less than 17 occasions.

After the game Ranieri admitted his players would need time to adapt to the new system, but with no win to cheer them in the last 10 games, the Valencia supporters are fast running out of patience.

Fortunately for the Italian, the same cannot be said of Soler. “I have never questioned Ranieri,” he told a meeting of Valencia shareholders.

Fifty days ago, Valencia were leaders of the Primera Liga, looking to defend the title they won so brilliantly last year under the direction of current Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

But they have since slipped to eighth in the table, after taking just two points from their last five league outings.

They were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Second Division side Lleida, and it now looks possible they will be eliminated during the group phase of the Champions League.

The fact that could allow them to defend the UEFA Cup Benitez led them to last season would be scant consolation to the Valencia fans.

“I don’t like to ratify people in their positions, but we have never questioned Ranieri’s work,” insisted Soler.

The club had also publicly backed the coach after the 1-0 defeat by Getafe the previous week.