Vicente: "2004 was a great year for the whole team"

Vicente Rodriguez scored the opening goal at the Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville in May of 2004, which helped Valencia CF to their sixth LaLiga title. Sixteen years have gone by, but the evergreen winger still remembers the occasion clearly.

He called in to VCF Media Radio on Friday to reflect on a terrific season for the team and himself on an individual level.

An opening goal to remember

"It all began the night before. The teams who were chasing us hadn't got good results, and we were going to be close if we won in Seville. We went for the win from the opening minute, although there was a lot of suffering because it's a tough ground.

"My first goal was off a quick move between Carboni, Xisco and I. Xisco took a very good touch with his heel, I got behind Sergio Ramos at fullback, I went through on goal and Javi Navarro got his arm across me. I made some space, and the goalkeeper had left his near post open. It would have been easier to have shot towards the back post, but thankfully it went in at the near stick."

"The memory that I will always have in my mind is of the goal, and when I kissed the badge. That's always going to have a place in my heart. I also remember the celebrations in Valencia, with everybody from the city to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento square."

The fans

"I remember that there were a lot of fans in Seville. When Valencia CF play for something important, the fans always respond, be it at Mestalla or away from home. The fans took a 6 or 7 hour car journey to Seville, and those who were there with the team enjoyed it a lot. I'm Valencian, so seeing how the city was when we got back gives me goosebumps. There were so many people and so many Valencia CF flags. It was incredible."

A brilliant year

"It was a great year for all of the team, on an individual and collective level. We did things very well and we were a very compact, solid team. Our defending was amazing, and when we went on the attack we were a very dangerous side. We were able to dominate sides and our counters were really good, getting a lot of people into the opposition box."

"For me it was a really good season, but I was always helped by my teammates. When a player is doing well, it's because they have the support of the coach and their teammates. It was a very important year and I enjoyed myself a lot, scoring goals and providing a lot of assists. Later on I had an ankle injury that prevented me from having the consistency that I would have had."

The chance for more silverware for the current team

"I hope so. I think that Valencia CF have to continue to work hard and do things well. I'm sure that, with hard work, they can win trophies. It's difficult; before, when we won our trophies, there were teams who were stronger and had more financial power, but I think that on the pitch everything evens itself out. If you work well and do things well, in the end dreams come true. Why not aspire to it? We saw Valencia CF win the Copa del Rey a short time ago, against a good team in FC Barcelona. I hope that they can continue winning silverware, to make the entire fanbase happy."