A former Valencia CF player and coach, with plenty of experience of Real Madrid, Quique Sánchez Flores spoke to VCF Media ahead of the meeting between the two teams.

An exciting start

The start by both teams is exciting. The feeling of a game against a great team like Real Madrid is always appealing, especially at Mestalla in front of the fans. They are always classic games of a stratospheric level. As the two teams are high up in the table, it will be even more interesting.

Keys to victory

Valencia CF are able to beat Real Madrid because they have the necessary tools, a defined first eleven, and they know what they are doing. They have very high morale and they are also playing at home. Therefore, they have the tools and conditions to compete against Real Madrid.

VCF DNA

Bordalás has got it right. He has resorted to the essence of the Valencia CF sides of the 21st century, with a strong defence that doesn't concede goals. That gives security when it comes to going on the attack. They have a fast, vertical attack that doesn't hold play up with horizontal passes. That has been good for the players and the message has got through. They have had good results and this will continue solidifying the team.

Defensive security

Defensive security is something with which Valencia CF grew again at the beginning of the 2000s. The Valencia CF side that won LaLiga was a solid team, a strong structure, with a recognisable system. Those of us at the back thought that a clean sheet generates a lot of security, and from there you can build.

Mestalla

Football is nothing without fans. There are fanbases that are more noticeable than others, and Valencia CF supporters are loyal and passionate, which is very noticeable when you go onto the pitch at Mestalla.

Memories of Valencia CF vs. Real Madrid games

It is very special. I remember as a player that when you got on the bus you were already going through the situations that could happen, you knew the spectacle that you were going to find in the stands and how our fans were going to push the team on. We have always felt that when we play at Mestalla, but when we played against Real Madrid we were very aware of it.

As a coach, the most special moment was at the Santiago Bernabéu, where we won 1-2. I remember that Cañizares told me “Boss, enjoy it because this is not easy to do."