I was wondering about most Valencia fans' dislike of Real Madrid.
I never realized it until recently, but then I didn't know any real valencianistas until recently. My family are mostly madridistas, from Alcoy, a city in the Valencian region (but not close to the city) where most people are Barça fans and the rest are Madrid fans. (This may have changed in the last 3-4 years, but up through when I was there nobody was a fan of any other team.) So I grew up madridista but became a Valencia fan after I got into soccer; it seemed more normal to me as an American to follow the regional team even if it wasn't good. Obviously, I still like Madrid whenever they're not playing against Valencia.
It seemed normal; Valencia's greatest rival was Barcelona (and we kept beating them), and there was the political aspect of Valencia resisting being part of els països catalans. Not that being part of Spain was what everyone wanted, but Catalonia's attitude towards Valencia was seen as more offensive.
Then the Champion's League final between Valencia and Madrid came. It sounded so friendly before the game, like a festival more than a deathmatch. I remember one of the radio commentators saying they should both play in their white shirts, tie 0-0, and give one team the "Champion's" and the other team the "League".
I didn't hear any hatred until Madrid became the team to beat in Spain after Barcelona's fall and all the talk about Mendieta moving to Madrid. Did things actually change? Does Valencia simply hate whichever other team is near the top?
I'd like to hear all your thoughts.
I never realized it until recently, but then I didn't know any real valencianistas until recently. My family are mostly madridistas, from Alcoy, a city in the Valencian region (but not close to the city) where most people are Barça fans and the rest are Madrid fans. (This may have changed in the last 3-4 years, but up through when I was there nobody was a fan of any other team.) So I grew up madridista but became a Valencia fan after I got into soccer; it seemed more normal to me as an American to follow the regional team even if it wasn't good. Obviously, I still like Madrid whenever they're not playing against Valencia.
It seemed normal; Valencia's greatest rival was Barcelona (and we kept beating them), and there was the political aspect of Valencia resisting being part of els països catalans. Not that being part of Spain was what everyone wanted, but Catalonia's attitude towards Valencia was seen as more offensive.
Then the Champion's League final between Valencia and Madrid came. It sounded so friendly before the game, like a festival more than a deathmatch. I remember one of the radio commentators saying they should both play in their white shirts, tie 0-0, and give one team the "Champion's" and the other team the "League".
I didn't hear any hatred until Madrid became the team to beat in Spain after Barcelona's fall and all the talk about Mendieta moving to Madrid. Did things actually change? Does Valencia simply hate whichever other team is near the top?
I'd like to hear all your thoughts.
) but I can tell you just couple(not all) of my personal reasons (briefly)for disliking them(eventhough I'm not sure you wanna hear them):
