Following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign finishing just two spots off relegation, Valencia CF are now finding form under former player turned manager Rubén Baraja. Throughout the season, the 48-year-old manager has continued to put his faith in youth with all four goal scorers under the age of 24. The first youngster to open the scoring was Los Che’s top scorer this season, Hugo Duro. A product of the Getafe CF academy, Duro left his boyhood team for Valencia CF in July 2022 and has become a regular starter under Baraja.
Just ten minutes later, Cádiz levelled following a controversial penalty decision. The second half saw Valencia CF pull away thanks to the young attacking trio of Diego López (21), Javi Guerra (20) and Jesús Vázquez (21). A credit to the Valencia youth system, all three have made their way through the system with López previously playing for Valencia B and Guerra and Vázquez coming through the youth academy.
Earlier in the year, club captain José Gayà spoke to LALIGA WORLD about what it means to captain the side as well as his role in guiding the younger players at Los Che:
“When I was a kid, I dreamed of playing for the first team someday. It was the club I’d always wanted to play for. I had hope but I always had my feet on the ground, knowing about how difficult it is. The locker room is always good, after what we went through last year, it is united. Us more experienced players have to try to help everyone coming up, and that means the younger players have to be the key for this year. To be a strong and competitive team.”
“The Mestalla is with us, they already proved that last year. They were there pushing us at the key times. We need them. I’ve gone through basically all of the lower categories and they’ve taught me lots of values here, that is what I try to portray, hope, desire, commitment and try to make everyone proud to wear this jersey.”
With Valencia CF now up to 8th in the LALIGA EA SPORTS table, with three league wins in a row, Rubén Baraja and his youthful team will be looking for further success when they face Athletic Club on Saturday evening.
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