VALENCIA, Spain (AFP) - New Valencia coach Ronald Koeman said Friday he believes the club can make up the lost ground behind league leaders Real Madrid in La Liga.

"Seven points behind, it's a lot," said the former championship winning coach of PSV Eindhoven during his official presentation to the press.

Koeman replaces Quique Sanchez Flores who was sacked on Sunday night after a 3-0 defeat at Sevilla, their fourth defeat in five games, including two in the Champions League.

Since then, Valencia have also lost 5-1 at home to Real, a defeat that saw them slump to sixth in the league.

"The championship is very long, there have only been 10 matches and that means that there are 28 to go, which represents a lot of points," said the 44-year-old Koeman, who will take his first training session on Monday before sitting on the bench for the first time on Tuesday night for the Champions League clash against Rosenberg.

"The situation in the Champions League is difficult," Koeman said. Valencia have recorded two losses and one win in their three European encouters.

"We now have two matches at home against Rosenberg and then Schalke 04 and to be in control of our own destiny we must win them both," he added.