Valencia coach Unai Emery this Saturday declared that his side was currently stronger than Real Madrid.

Valencia's summer saw the side forced to sell Spain internationals David Villa and David Silva as well as losing Carlos Marchena to Villarreal. However, the club has compensated by bringing strikers Aritz Aduriz and Roberto Soldado as well as defender Ricardo Costa among others.

Emery's men got their season off to a perfect start with a 3-1 opening day win away to Malaga and the Valencia coach is delighted with his squad.

"All I can say is that at the moment we are stronger than Real Madrid," he said in an interview with Italian paper 'la Gazetta dello Sport'.

However, he admitted that over the duration of a season it would be a "surprise if we were able to battle for the league title."

"Our aim at Valencia every season is to ensure we qualify for the Champions League, the most important competition in Europe," he said.

Emery also had a message for midfielder player Manuel Fernandez. The Portuguese midfielder was unable to find a club to move to on the last day before the transfer window closed.

Now the Valencia coach wants Fernandez to show why the club was willing to pay 18 million euros (23 million U.S. dollars) for his services three years ago.

"Fernandez has decided to stay here and now he has to accept his responsibility. He has to stop being a promise for the future and start to become a reality," said Emery.