Alexa Philippou

Cincinnati Enquirer

Valencia coach Marcelino "was really happy to be here and hopes that FC Cincinnati will play in the MLS as soon as possible,” he said through a La Liga translator following his team’s 2-0 win.

Marcelino said it's really important that on a Monday night the stadium was as full as it was and that he wishes the club all the best in its pursuit to join the MLS, according to the translator.

Marcelino’s comments come as FC Cincinnati, currently part of the United Soccer League, pushes to become one of the two teams to join the MLS as part of its upcoming round of expansion, a decision that will be made later this year.

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The atmosphere at Nippert – which featured approximately 23,000 fans – could be compared to that of a La Liga match, Marcelino said through the translator.

“It was great, spectacular playing here... It was a great experience with great atmosphere,” Marcelino said through the translator.

The translator added that Marcelino "felt a lot of respect from the fans here and they were really happy with that.”

Valencia is the second international team FC Cincinnati has hosted at Nippert for a friendly, the first being the Premier League’s Crystal Palace last year.

Like Marcelino, then-Palace manager Alan Pardew was impressed by the atmosphere at Nippert, calling it "phenomenal," and expressed interest in returning in the near future for a second match.

Praise like this can only help FC Cincinnati's push to join America's premier soccer league.

Cincinnati was the second and final stop of Valencia’s preseason "VCFonTour," which began on Saturday with a friendly against the NASL’s New York Cosmos at New Mosaic Stadium in Regina, a city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Valencia fell 2-0 to the Cosmos in front of a crowd of just over 15,000.

Valencia’s tight schedule didn’t leave much time for the club to tour the Queen City but it did make a trip to Great American Ball Park to catch the Reds take on the Marlins Sunday afternoon.

Valencia midfielder and captain Dani Parejo was able to test his throwing arm, as he was chosen to throw out the first pitch, with Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo catching for him behind the plate.

“Apart from the Cincinnati Reds match (we) haven't seen a lot actually,” Marcelino said through the translator. “But hopefully there will be a next time.”

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