Valencia may have to ditch their new-found attacking style of football in favour of an "ugly" defensive approach if they are to beat Inter Milan in the Champions League, according to club captain David Albelda.
"We are conceding too many goals and have to learn to control the games more effectively," Albelda told reporters before Wednesday's Champions League match against the Group G leaders.
"We have to shape up a bit and if it means playing more ugly football and defending deep then we should do it."
The Spanish champions, who also won the UEFA Cup last season, lost their unbeaten record in the league when Sevilla came from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win at the Mestalla on Sunday.
They also surrendered a lead against Real Betis in their previous league match to end up drawing 1-1 and lost 2-1 to Werder Bremen in their last Champions League match after midfielder Vicente put them ahead in the second minute.
Albelda said the team had changed style under coach Claudio Ranieri, but it needed to make sure it did not neglect its former defensive prowess.
"We now have more possession and have improved in attack, but we need to make sure we don't lose our traditional strength in defence. In previous seasons it was impossible for a side to come back against us from a goal down."
Inter, who completed a spectacular 3-1 victory over Udinese at the weekend, knocked Valencia out of the UEFA Cup and the Champions League at the quarter-final stages in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
But Albelda is confident that their previous defeats will help inspire his side to an improved performance this time round.
"We aren't scared of games like this," he said. "In fact, we enjoy them and do well in them. There is no such thing in football as revenge, but we will have a special motivation to win this game.
"It is good that we are playing at home and we know that if we win we will be up there fighting for a place in the next round."
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