MADRID (AFP) - Many coaches would wish for the success Valencia's Ronald Koeman has had, winning his first major trophy less than six months after starting his job, but the Dutchman begged to differ on Thursday.

Koeman cut a sober figure in the early hours of Thursday morning after Valencia had beaten Getafe 3-1 to lift the Spanish Cup, their seventh victory in the event, knowing his job is still on the line despite his team's triumph.

"We've got a project at Valencia and whether we had won or lost the Cup it doesn't changed anything," said Koeman.

Confirming his kill-joy appearance, the former Dutch international and Barcelona hero has cancelled any Cup celebrations and ordered his men to train on Thursday evening because of Valencia's perilous situation in La Liga.

The 2004 and 2004 Spanish champions, who have also reached the Champions League final twice in the last decade, have slipped from being in Champions League contention to 15th place in the Spanish first division.

With only one win out of their last nine league games, Valencia are now only five points above the relegation zone.

"I hope that the Cup triumph will allow us to work more calmly from now.

"I'm already thinking about the game on Sunday (when Valencia have a tricky away visit to Athletic Bilbao). I know it's been nine years since Valencia last won the Cup but now we've got to concentrate on the league.

"There are some things you can't explain. In the Cup we were outstanding against Atletico (Madrid) and Barcelona.

"Maybe it's because they were knock-out ties with only two matches and we are always thinking we can resolve our situation in the league.

"Our problem is more mental than anything else although we've also been unlucky on a few occasions," added Koeman, reflecting on his Valencia's traumatic season since he took over in November.

Koeman will be hoping that his Cup success will buy him time to mould the squad to his own liking during the summer.

He caused uproar during the winter transfer window by discarding three Valencia icons - Spanish internationals Santiago Canizares, Miguel Angel Angulo and David Albelda - and telling them to find new clubs.

The move alienated many of the fanatical supporters of arguably the third biggest and successful club in Spain after giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The messy recent court battle in which former captain Albelda sued the club for constructive dismissal, and which saw some players appear as witnesses, also did nothing to help Koeman's image despite the court finding in favour of the club.

Valencia's Cup success will have mollified a few of his critics among the fans although a section of the crowd chanted "Koeman, get lost," throughout the match.

However, the Spanish media knives are still out for Koeman.

"The future of Koeman is still up in the air," commented Spain's biggest sports daily Marca in a headline on Thursday, before running over a set of scenarios in which he would be sacked.

Koeman will certainly go if Valencia's La Liga free fall continues and they get relegated, leaving them next season with the unwanted accolade of being only the second Spanish lower division side to play in Europe.

"This Cup victory should help us acquire the winning mentality in our remaining league games," said Koeman, who will be offering a silent prayer that his words are prophetic and he is still the Valencia coach in August.