Valencia coach calls for more effort from Sadiq and two others after heavy loss to Barcelona

Speaking at the post-match press conference after his side's heavy 5-0 loss to Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, Valencia CF manager Carlos Corberán urged Sadiq Umar, Max Aarons and Iván Jaime to step up their game.

Sadiq, Aarons and Jaime were loaned in from Real Sociedad, Bournemouth and FC Porto in the recently concluded transfer window.

Valencia's early mistakes rendered the match meaningless within the first 30 minutes, with Barcelona establishing a four-goal lead.

Barcelona brushed aside Valencia thanks to a hat-trick from Ferran Torres and goals from Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal.

After the break and with Barcelona leading 4-0, Sadiq thought he got his name on the scoresheet but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review.

In what was his fifth appearance in all competitions for Valencia, the Nigeria international made way for Rafa Mir with nineteen minutes left on the clock. 

When asked to assess the performance of winter arrivals Sadiq, Aarons and Jaime, Corberán told reporters: "The assessment is that we all have to give much more, because we have not competed, performed, played at the level of the match, the tie and what the fans needed."

Sadiq started his first game for Valencia after recovering from a minor injury that saw him remain on the bench for the entirety of the 7-1 defeat to Barcelona in a La Liga match on January 26.

The Nigerian and his teammates will be hoping to return to winning ways on Sunday when they face CD Leganes in the Spanish top-flight.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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