Valencia's numbers put Corberán on a par with Benítez, Marcelino, and Cúper.

"I don't feel like a hero, I'm not one." Carlos Corberán remains the same "extraterrestrial," as those around him define him, who arrived in Paterna on December 27th with Valencia second to last on 12 points. He wasn't upset then by taking a historic team, his grandfather's team, where he played goalkeeper as a child, from the brink of collapse, nor is he now that it has catapulted him into the fight for Europe . He has played 18 matches in which he has collected 33 points from nine wins, six draws, and only three losses. Valencia has gone ten games without losing, the fourth best run in the top five leagues, equalled by Napoli , who are fighting for the title in Serie A, and surpassing Strasbourg (12), who are looking for a Champions League spot, Barça (17) and leading Claudio Ranieri 's Roma , who lost to Atalanta after a run of 19 games (14 wins and five draws) that took them out of the bottom of the standings in an almost parallel life with this Valencia.

The former Valencia manager's streak is over; Corberán's is waiting for the team to extend it against Alavés , Athletic Club , and Betis . The fight will begin at Mendizorroza against a rival playing for survival, but the coach is unfazed by the challenges. He continues on his way without uttering the word "Europe," although with it in mind. " This team doesn't negotiate competing . You can't win four points in this game. You can win three at most, and my ambition is for the team to get them," he stated.

Valencia is not relying on itself to achieve a goal in which Celta and Rayo have the advantage, but it wants to be on the lookout for a mistake - there is a clash between them in the penultimate matchday - and because it has within reach of finishing with championship-worthy statistics.

If Valencia earns the nine points at stake, they will reach 42 since Corberán took over. Since one of them was scored before the end of the first half of the season, they would be just one point shy of the team's tally under Rafa Benítez in the second half of the 2001/02 season, the Madrid coach's first, in which they won the league title after a 31-year drought. Since then, no one has matched that performance. Under Nuno , they earned 39 in the 14/15 season and under Marcelino, 38 in the 18/19 season. In both cases, Valencia finished in the top four and played in the Champions League. Héctor Cúper finished the 1999/2000 season with 36, leading the club back to the top competition and its second consecutive final.

Key players

Corberán's feat is to restore Valencia to that form, hampered by a horrendous first half of the season that saw them earn just 13 points. How has he achieved this? Through improved team play and, in particular, the performance of some players.

The signing of Sadiq and Enzo Barrenechea in the January transfer window, on loan from Real Sociedad and Aston Villa, has been crucial. The Nigerian's five goals earned them points that secured their place in the squad and allowed them to survive the absence of Hugo Duro , who recovered from an injury in January. The Argentine's balance in midfield allowed the team to play the role the coach intended for his unit: not shying away from ball control but also not giving up on quick transitions.

And the awakening of Javi Guerra , who will miss the Alavés match due to suspension, and the instinctive approach of Diego López have been crucial. The midfielder has gone from being unable to find his place in the starting eleven to becoming a catalyst for the game and an essential part of the identity Corberán is seeking. He has emerged as an even more complete player than the one seen in his debut in the First Division two seasons ago.

In the case of the Asturian, his goalscoring record has recovered. Up until the last ten matches, he had scored three, to which he has added five more. In fact, he is the player with the third most goals generated in La Liga, behind Álex Baena and Lamine Yamal .

Given this complete turnaround Valencia has undergone in just five months, Corberán is working to encourage everyone to appreciate it, to encourage Valencia fans to enjoy having reached the final three matches without suffering, which is the greatest reward, but that doesn't mean they should relax. Everyone wants more.