The 1996-97 campaign proved a deeply turbulent chapter for Valencia, as Los Che struggled for consistency, ultimately slumping to a disappointing 10th-place finish in La Liga and missing out on European qualification. The season was defined by off-pitch drama, including the brief, controversial stay of star forward Romário and the mid-season departure of manager Luis Aragonés. Despite the instability, the team managed a respectable run to the UEFA Cup Quarter-finals before being eliminated by the eventual champions, Schalke 04. Leading the line for the league goals were new forward signings Goran Vlaović and Leandro Machado, who each netted 8 times in a fraught year of transition at Mestalla.