Valencia hurt by national team demands says coach

MADRID, June 1 (Reuters) Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores believes his side's league campaign has suffered this season because they have overtaken Real Madrid and Barcelona as the main supplier of players for the Spanish national team.

''One of the heaviest burdens we have had to bear this season is that we have become the team that provides most players for the national side,'' Sanchez Flores was quoted as saying in the Sport newspaper today.

''Despite suffering a host of injuries this season this team has been the basis of the national team. It obviously shows we have good players but it makes big demands on us too.'' Valencia have supplied six players for the Spain squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Latvia and Liechtenstein, while Barcelona have provided three and Real Madrid two.

Sanchez Flores said that midfielders David Silva and Miguel Angel Angulo had both been called up despite suffering from injuries.

''Silva couldn't play for us in the last match and Angulo has got a serious muscle strain,'' he said. ''I'm worried because I could see it coming. I know they are going to push them to the limit and they might not be fit when they come back here.'' Valencia, who are assured of a place in next season's Champions League qualifiers, are in fourth place in the Primera Liga, five points behind Sevilla with two games left to play.

Reuters TB VV1633