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Spanish media revel in Valencia victory, rip Real apart
Seville, May 11: Spanish media hailed Valencia and lambasted Real Madrid`s shortcomings on Monday after Rafa Benitez`s side clinched their second league title in three seasons.
Seville, May 11: Spanish media hailed Valencia and lambasted Real Madrid's shortcomings on Monday after Rafa Benitez's side clinched their second league title in three seasons.
Valencia made the most of slip-ups by Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the Primera Liga with a typically slick 2-0 victory over Sevilla on Sunday.
"Unlike Madrid, Valencia are a complete team," said daily El Mundo. "With fewer stars and less glitter, Valencia have more resources and a greater ability to prevent themselves being exposed than Real."
The Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia exploded with joy after its football team won the title for the second time in three seasons.
An estimated 75,000 fans flooded into the Plaza de Ayuntamiento in the centre of the city to celebrate their team's triumph, letting off fire-crackers and blowing whistles as car horns blared and bands played the club anthem.
Valencia were accompanied by around 3,000 fans on their trip to play Sevilla, but the rest of the city will not get a chance to greet their heroes until they return on Monday afternoon.
The team are due to tour the city in an open-top bus and be greeted by local dignitaries before a celebratory party at their Mestalla stadium.
Daily newspaper El Pais highlighted Valencia's impressive trajectory in recent seasons saying that they had entered a "golden age" of success in the last five years.
"Cup winners in 1999, finalists in the Champions League in 2000 and 2001, winners of the league in 2002 and this season, Valencia have responded with enormous efficiency to the challenges presented by modern football."
Valencia trailed Real Madrid by eight points at the beginning of March, but fought back strongly in the run-in while their illustrious rivals folded under the pressure.
They took over at the top on April 11 after Real slumped to a 3-0 home defeat against Osasuna and retained the leadership from then on.
There was universal agreement that Valencia's victory was a triumph for the traditional footballing virtues of a strong team spirit, careful planning and good coaching.
"Valencia won their sixth league title thanks to the hard work of recent years," said Valencia daily Las Provincias. "The rewards keep coming as shown by the way they obtained the new title by crushing their millionaire 'galactico' rivals."
The media's assessment was supported by Valencia captain David Albelda and his team mates.
"This title is a victory for humility and hard work," said Albelda. "It is proof that in this life money isn't everything. We are deserved winners. We have a very down-to-earth squad, keen to do things well and we have worked full out all season."
Fellow midfielder Ruben Baraja, who scored Valencia's second goal against Sevilla, agreed with Albelda's verdict.
"Winning the league ahead of an all-powerful team like Real makes this triumph even more valuable," he said.
While Valencia can now concentrate on completing a first ever domestic and European double as they prepare to face Olympique Marseille in the final of the UEFA Cup on May 19, Real must battle it out with arch-rivals Barcelona for the runners-up spot in the remaining two games.
Bureau Report
Valencia were accompanied by around 3,000 fans on their trip to play Sevilla, but the rest of the city will not get a chance to greet their heroes until they return on Monday afternoon.
The team are due to tour the city in an open-top bus and be greeted by local dignitaries before a celebratory party at their Mestalla stadium.
Daily newspaper El Pais highlighted Valencia's impressive trajectory in recent seasons saying that they had entered a "golden age" of success in the last five years.
"Cup winners in 1999, finalists in the Champions League in 2000 and 2001, winners of the league in 2002 and this season, Valencia have responded with enormous efficiency to the challenges presented by modern football."
Valencia trailed Real Madrid by eight points at the beginning of March, but fought back strongly in the run-in while their illustrious rivals folded under the pressure.
They took over at the top on April 11 after Real slumped to a 3-0 home defeat against Osasuna and retained the leadership from then on.
There was universal agreement that Valencia's victory was a triumph for the traditional footballing virtues of a strong team spirit, careful planning and good coaching.
"Valencia won their sixth league title thanks to the hard work of recent years," said Valencia daily Las Provincias. "The rewards keep coming as shown by the way they obtained the new title by crushing their millionaire 'galactico' rivals."
The media's assessment was supported by Valencia captain David Albelda and his team mates.
"This title is a victory for humility and hard work," said Albelda. "It is proof that in this life money isn't everything. We are deserved winners. We have a very down-to-earth squad, keen to do things well and we have worked full out all season."
Fellow midfielder Ruben Baraja, who scored Valencia's second goal against Sevilla, agreed with Albelda's verdict.
"Winning the league ahead of an all-powerful team like Real makes this triumph even more valuable," he said.
While Valencia can now concentrate on completing a first ever domestic and European double as they prepare to face Olympique Marseille in the final of the UEFA Cup on May 19, Real must battle it out with arch-rivals Barcelona for the runners-up spot in the remaining two games.
Bureau Report