A successful strategy laid the foundations for Valencia's 3-0 win over Stabaek in the 1st leg of the Europa League playoffs.

Valencia coach Unai Emery revealed that the preparations ahead of their Europa League playoff tie paid off and said the outcome was a "success".

The coach also highlighted Valencia's preparation as key: "We knew how to stop Stabaek because we knew their strengths."

It was a comfortable victory for Los Che in the first leg of their Europa League play-off, thanks to goals from Pablo, David Villa and substitute Joaquin, and Emery says the result justified playing his big guns in the game.

"It may seem like using a cannon to kill flies but they played against Cadiz and lost," said Emery to the press.

The coach said that Valencia's players needed match time in order to gain sharpness ahead of the Primera Division campaign, and also said the club cannot afford to lose at this stage.

"All the players need to be ready to play," he insisted.