Valencia CF24 November 2023

Baraja and Benítez's pre-match reunion

19 years after making history at Valencia CF together, they meet as coaches

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja, and Celta Vigo boss Rafa Benítez had a video call together ahead of the game between the two sides this Saturday afternoon.

The action, proposed by Valencia CF and RC Celta de Vigo and LaLiga, involved media from the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico, China, Thailand, Morocco, Norway and Egypt.

Baraja and Benítez spent three seasons together, from 2001-2004, at Valencia CF, with the current coach of the club playing under the highly successful manager who took them to two LaLiga titles and a UEFA Cup win.

“It's going to be something different to the usual. For the first time I am going to face a coach who coached me when I was a player. I like that it is Benítez, because he is a person who meets all the requirements for a coach," said Baraja.

“It brings me great joy to see Baraja and see that they are doing well. It's going to be a very difficult game. They are a good team, they are well organised, and they are playing at Mestalla -where the crowd push the team on,” explained Benítez.

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