MARCELINO HAS BEEN sacked as Valencia head coach just three matches into the new La Liga season.
The 54-year-old was dismissed on Wednesday following a reported falling out with club owner Peter Lim.
Former Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder Albert Celades, who was an assistant coach to Julen Lopetegui at the Santiago Bernabeu last year, has taken over at the Mestalla.
Marcelino was appointed as Valencia boss in May 2017 and led them to a fourth-place finish. His position came under threat 12 months ago during a difficult start to 2018-19, but the club kept faith in the former Villarreal boss and were rewarded when they ended the season by winning the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and clinching a Champions League spot.
Valencia have taken four points from three games this term but it was reported in Spain that Lim called club president Anil Murthy for an emergency meeting in Singapore on Wednesday after deciding to sack Marcelino.
They are due to face Barcelona in the league on Saturday before a trip to London to take on Chelsea in the Champions League Group H opener next Tuesday.
With the warm-up games out of the way, Murray, Bernard and Gavan discuss the renewed cause for optimism, impressive individual player form, and a potential quarter-final versus either South Africa or New Zealand.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud