Kiat Lim, the new owner of Valencia, attended his first competitive match on September 6, marking week four of La Liga. The 33-year-old owner arrived at Mestalla amidst a tense atmosphere, where protests were evident even before the match began. Fans had chosen to stay away until the 19th minute as a sign of dissent against the club management.
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As the game progressed, Valencia faced a heavy defeat against Barcelona, with a final score of 5-0. During the match, Rodri, a former Valencia player now with Barcelona, was overheard expressing his disappointment, describing the current Valencia team as "very weak" and "malísimo" (awful), which went viral after being captured on camera. Rodri later reached out to Valencia captain José Luis Gayà to apologize for his comments.
Following this defeat, Valencia's struggles became undeniable. With just one point from four matches, they had conceded nine goals while managing to score only once, and they ranked last in the league. The situation deteriorated further when Valencia lost 1-0 to Sevilla, marking their worst start in club history. As a result, coach Carlos Corberán was sacked shortly after the match.
Corberán had joined Valencia in December 2024, successfully guiding the team away from relegation. However, just five weeks into the new season, and despite a short extension of his contract, he was dismissed. This marked the third time Valencia has fired a coach after a loss to Sevilla.
The club’s CEO, Ron Gourlay, who had previously expressed support for Corberán, was also sacked, alongside his entire staff. Braulio Vázquez, who previously served as sporting director, is tasked with finding a new coach while the current caretaker manager steps in temporarily.
Fans are frustrated with the team's management and are calling for significant changes to turn the club’s fortunes around. Valencia’s recent history has been marked by instability, having had 15 different coaches since the current owner, Peter Lim, took over in 2014. Despite the turmoil, Valencia supporters remain hopeful for improvement, emphasizing the need for a return to the club's former glory.