Valencia turn to Valverde

Pellegrino, who has guided Valencia into the last 16 of this season's Champions League, was axed in the wake of Saturday's 5-2 home defeat to Real Sociedad.

Pellegrino was only appointed Valencia manager in May but the club has made its worst start to a campaign since 1999-2000. The weekend result left Valencia 12th in the La Liga table after 14 games and they have already lost six games this season.

The 48-year-old Valverde has coached Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal in the past as well as enjoying two spells in charge of Olympiacos, recently guiding the Greek side to a league and cup double before leaving the club for family reasons in April.

Valencia visit Lille on Wednesday and still have a chance of finishing at the top of Champions League Group F. Los Che are 2.40 to win the match while the French side are available at 3.00 to take all three points from the clash. Valencia can be backed at 51.00 to win this season's Champions League.

Valencia captain Roberto Soldado admitted Pellegrini's departure saddened him, saying: "The coach did his bit in the day-to-day management of the team, but on many occasions those who put in the hours during the week didn't show it in the match.

"The players feel responsible for the current situation.

"We are in no doubt that we, the players, can do the most to turn things around and, in light of the dreadful performance against Real Sociedad, we apologise to all the fans for the ridiculous spectacle we gave.

"It's not up to me to say if the dismissal is fair or not: that's for the board to judge. But the decision has been taken and change is going to come and the players have to knuckle down and get on with it."