Benitez: "The 2001-02 title win was a glorious time"

Rafa Benítez was the coach for Valencia CF's LaLiga title win in the 2001-02 season, which was achieved 20 years ago this week. VCF Media caught up with him to remember one of the greatest times in the club's history.

Reflecting on the title

There are people who question and criticise that we remember the title after 20 years, but they do not realise the reality. There are some people who have nothing to remember. They don't have trophies or those experiences. Fortunately, we do have them. We must convey to young people that although time has passed, it was something that we achieved. You have to stick with those kinds of things, because you have your memory and you know how it was achieved.

Competing against Real Madrid

Real Madrid had a great team and they had world-class players in all positions. What we did well was be united. We had a very balanced team. The team was solid. We grew during the season and I had more and more confidence in us. We were a team that could defend well, attack, counterattack and adapt to situations to get the most out of the squad. Players like Mista, Curro Torres or Vicente grew up in that team, together with the Ayalas, Pellegrinos or Carbonis, who were already established.

Becoming better

We inherited a good team. A good job had been done previously by Héctor Cúper. We gave it one more twist to make us a little more offensive-minded and balanced. The rivals we had were good. In addition to Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​there were also Deportivo, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. We were able to overcome them because we did many things well. A very compact and united team was created. Little by little, a great bond with the fans was forged, and Mestalla became strong. We had a lot of confidence that was growing day by day; there were a few years in which the team maintained a very high level and it was a glorious time.

Hard work and quality

We were a very hard-working team, but we also had quality. Angulo, for example, was a versatile player, but he had quality and took advantage of his talents. Aimar was a very talented player who could perform much better when surrounded by hard-working players. Baraja got into the box better than anyone. There were players like Vicente or Kily who broke down defences. I think the team were very balanced. Everyone highlighted the partnership of Albelda and Baraja, which worked perfectly, but on the right with Rufete and Angulo, or on the left with Kily and Vicente, we players who went back and forth and put in the defensive work. Quality is not only skill. Quality is doing the right thing at the right time -and we did it many times.

A key moment

In January I told several players that we were going to win the league. They thought I was crazy. But from that moment on, the team grew.

Being united to achieve the goals

The newer generations must realise that sport has to help us, unite us and allow us to express ourselves. If we are positive, we support our team, our players and we are all united, we get closer to achieving our goals.

His return to Mestalla as Real Madrid coach

That moment was endearing. Arriving there, with Real Madrid, and having the fans support me was a source of great satisfaction on a personal level. I am very grateful to all the Valencia CF fans, who have always been very good to me.