On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Valencia CF's 2001/02 LaLiga title triumph, VCF Media caught up with two members of the defensive line that day. Fabio Aurelio and Curro Torres were part of a video call in which they remembered the events of May 5th, 2002, at La Rosaleda in Malaga.
Aurelio was one of the goalscorers that day, making a major impact in the title-clinching contest in Andalusia. It was not the most prolific season for him in terms of minutes, but the Brazilian made his opportunity count.

"I was very lucky to be part of that group -a winning team. Playing a part in that game in which we were crowned champions was great. Amedeo Carboni was suspended, so I was lucky enough to participate in that game in Malaga -even contributing with a goal. My memories of that day are indescribable," he said, calling in from his homeland.

Torres added that "I think that we all remember those goals. Those memories don't fade. Fabio was used to scoring, whilst I found it a little harder to get goals. I think that we all get emotional when we talk about those goals. There was a lot of emotion when we won that first title. I remember Fabio's goal, because there was such a long wait for it to be given. We went over to ask whether it was a goal or not, because there was a bit of doubt, and in the end it was given. I think, honestly -and it's a feeling I have-, that I knew before that game that we were going to be champions. I had no doubts. There was no better moment to do it, because we were ready for it."

"I personally have a memory of the game, of a moment in which I was very scared, when a ball went to Cañizares. I remember that the ball went back to him very quickly. He came off his line, and I could only pray for the ball not to go in. My world was caving in at that moment. Fortunately for us, those types of circumstances didn't turn out for the worse," says the former fullback, now coach at CD Lugo.

"I have a lot of memories. I remember the night before the game, the circumstances went our way for us to become champions, and we enjoyed that a lot in the hotel. That's why I say that we knew we were going to be champions. There was a game between Real Madrid and Real Mallorca, and every time that a goal was scored, we would run into the corridors of the hotel shouting. It was our moment, and we knew that we were going to do it."
The pair also talked about life under Rafa Benitez during that successful season, how they are dealing with the lockdown situation in their respective countries, and the last time they saw each other. When they do meet, there are always some words about one of their greatest days on the pitch together: May 5th, 2002.