Harvey Elliott's loan at Valencia hasn't got off to the best of starts, and there's already talk that a change of manager could be in the pipeline after yet another defeat
Harvey Elliott attacking midfield of Valencia and England during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Estadi de Mestalla on September 6, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Harvey Elliott has played just two games so far at Valencia, but could already be getting a new manager soon(Image: Getty Images)
Just two games into his temporary stay at Valencia, Harvey Elliott could already be facing a change of manager after a disastrous start to the season for his new team.
Elliott joined the Spanish club on a season-long loan from Liverpool during the summer, having of course endured a nightmare year at Aston Villa last season before returning to Merseyside for pre-season.
The 23-year-old made his Valencia debut last week as he came off the bench against Barcelona, although it was far from the ideal first appearance as his new side was thrashed 5-0. His second game on Friday wasn’t quite as bad, but it still ended in defeat.
Juan Iglesias’ goal nine minutes from time was enough to sentence Valencia to another loss, meaning it has picked up just one point from its opening five games, having lost each of its last four.
Elliott was once again brought off the bench, this time to try and find a winner as the game remained deadlocked heading into final half-hour or so. Alas, it wasn’t to be for the England U21 international, and now there are suggestions he could have a new manager in charge soon.
Current Valencia boss Carlos Corberan is coming under immense pressure for his position. The former West Brom boss was appointed back in December 2024, and only signed a one-year extension on his contract back in July, having led the club to a ninth-place finish last season.
Carlos Corberan looks on
Valencia boss Carlos Corberan is under immense pressure for his job(Image: Europa Press via Getty Images)
Valencia currently sits bottom of La Liga, and now there are suggestions that Corberan’s position is in danger.
Reporting on the defeat to Sevilla, Spanish outlet AS wrote: “There's a chance that Carlos Corberán wrote the epitaph of his (first) stint as Valencia 's coach in Nervión. Ironically, the man from Cheste sacked then-Sevilla manager Matías Almeyda last year after taking over at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. That time he lost, although he didn't really deserve to (nor to win). A goal from Juan Iglesias decided the match. What goes around comes around…”
Corberan could be spared by Valencia’s quick turnaround, with the club playing again on Tuesday at Alaves, but the pressure is on, even if he remains determined to hold onto his position.
“I've said that I always have the confidence and the strength, but sometimes answering that question after a defeat isn't the most appropriate thing to do,” Corberan said after the defeat to Sevilla.
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“I know my responsibility, which, as a teammate mentioned, is to win matches, and I'm very aware that when I don't get the wins, it means we haven't achieved our goal.
“I accept criticism, I accept responsibility, and I'm focused on finding ways to improve. Because when I see the team give their all but not get the result, it means the approach to the game wasn't right. I can't ask more of the lads today because the team gave everything, but they couldn't find a way to make it count or overcome the opponent in the second half.”
He added: “I think the fans aren't looking for words right now, they're looking for action. And what we have to do is, in Vitoria, give everything we have to finally change this dynamic.”