If the previous season had been sad, with the defeat of Valencia CF in the Champions League final match, the 2000/2001 season can be described as a real nightmare, one of the most tragical seasons in the history of our club. Everything started with the pride of being Europa's runner-up and with great aspirations, but everything turned into a complete disaster with the elimination in the King's Cup versus a rival from the Second Division B and the defeat in the second consecutive Champions Legue final match. If that was not enough, Valencia CF lost the possibility of playing next season's Champions League in the very last minutes of the last league match versus FC Barcelona. But fate had kept more surprises for us. In a very controversial summer, Gaizka Mendieta, captain and symbol of Valencia CF, left the club and betrayed the supporters. All this caused the dismissal of a great president, Pedro Cortés. A season worth to be forgotten.
Valencia CF made a risky bet, and tried to create a great team to try the european feat of the previous season. Héctor Cúper wanted to keep the block, but some important players left the team, for different reasons. Three players that had completed an excellent season left. Claudio López was transfered to Lazio, Farinós to Inter Milan and Gerard signed with FC Barcelona. Alain Roche, Goran Vlaovic, Faggiani, Óscar, and the valencian defenders Javi Navarro and Paco Camarasa left, too.
Too many players left, but the club knew how to replace them and reinforced the team well. During the summer Ruben Baraja was hired from Atletico Madrid (a team that had been relegated to the second division), who would soon become a reference in the midfield. Didier Deschamps, world and european champion, Zlatko Zahovic (from Slovenia), Diego Alonso (from Uruguay) and John Carew (from Norway) were also hired.
But the most important hiring of Valencia CF would take place in December. With the team full of doubts after the Cup's disaster and the ups and downs in the leage, the argentinian idol Pablo César Aimar arrived. Also in December, the young left defender Fabio Aurelio arrived.
The league started well. Valencia CF reached the leadership in the 6th week. There were ups and downs in the middle of the seasons, but the team remained in the Champions League positions until the last match, the team lost versus FC Barcelona and had to play the UEFA Cup.
In the King's Cup, Valencia CF failed even more than last season, because Cuper's team was defeated by Guadix CF, last in the 4th group of the Second Division B.
But the worst was to come. After a great european season, Valencia CF lost the second consecutive Champions League final match, this time versus Bayern Munchen. In a tragical night, the valencians saw how the dream vanished in a cruel way, after the penalty shoot-out. A sad night, hard to forget, that finished with the tears of Santiago Cañizares.
When everything seemed to be calm, and the supporters started to recover, Gaizka Mendieta, captain of the team and idol of the supporters, announced on July 15th, 2001, that he wanted to leave the club. He wanted to improve his career and said that he didn't feel supported by the valencian fans. But that was not true, because the real reason was a possible hiring by Real Madrid. All this caused the dismissal of the presiden, Mr. Pedro Cortés. Jaime Ortí became new president of Valencia CF and avoided his transfer to Real Madrid. Gaizka could not remain in Valencia anymore and was finally tranfered to Lazio.
A really tragical season. The supporters could not believe what happened. Summer went by plenty of doubts and uncertainties, but Valencia's fate was going to change radically.

In the national league championship, Valencia CF was at the level of the other competitions. Just as in the Champions League, Cuper's threw away the work of a whole season in the very last match, after losing versus FC Barcelona at Camp Nou and losing the place for the Champions League.
The start of the season was thrilling, because Valencia CF had to visit Santiago Bernabeu a few months after the Champions League final match versus Real Madrid. Valencia CF was defeated after a great match, with the help of a controversial referee Daudén Ibañez, repeated in the 27th week versus Celta Vigo at Balaídos.
After this dump versus Real Madrid, Valencia improved and reached the leadership in the 6th match, after defeating Zaragoza at Mestalla. Valencia CF started then a spectacular series of results, and remained unbeaten until the 18th week. The results were good, but the performance of the team was very poor. The supporters were not happy at all, especially with Hector Cuper's decisions.
The real challenge arrived. In the 18th, 19th and 20th weeks, Valencia CF had to play versus Deportivo, Barcelona and Real Madrid consecutively. Valencia started these three matches as leader, but lost all of them and fell down in the classification. Mestalla's mood got dark, and despite the good trajectory of the team in Europe, the trainer never counted on the approval of the supporters.
Nevertheles, Valencia CF never left the Champions League positions. In the 35th week, Valencia CF defeated Athletic Bilbao at Mestalla, and travelled to Milan to play the Champions League final match.
After the disaster, Valencia CF had to win just two points in the last three league matches to asure the participation in the Champions League next season. It seemed easy, but everything went wrong. Valencia couldn't achieve more than a draw at Santander, a team that was at the verge of the relegation, lost home versus Deportivo Coruña after a defensive mistake, and then, the nightmare again. Valencia CF was playing versus FC Barcelona at Camp Nou. A tie was enough to qualify, but one minute before the end of the match, with 2-2 in the scoreboard, Rivaldo scored and left our Valencia out of the highest european competition. The scorers of Valencia CF this season were: Juan Sánchez (12 goals), John Carew (11 goals), Gaizka Mendieta (10 goals), Vicente Rodríguez (5 goals), Rubén Baraja (4 goals), Kily González, Zlatko Zahovic (3 goals), Pablo Aimar, Diego Alonso (2 goals) and Roberto Fabián Ayala (1 goal). These were the results of the 2000/2001 season.

Once again, Cuper's team failed in the King's Cup. For the first time, since a long time ago, the first rounds of the competition would be played in a single match in the stadium of the lower category rival.
In the first round, Valencia CF had to play versus UD Atletico Gramanet, a team of the Second Division B. The match was very controversial, because Valencia CF didn't want to play at Nou Camp Municipal Stadium in Santa Coloma de Gramanet, because the field was artifical grass. The law allowed Valencia's denial, and the match was finally played at Narcís Sala Stadium in Barcelona. After a very bad match, Valencia won 0-1 with a goal by Angulo.
In the second round, the disaster arrived. Valencia CF had to play at Guadix in a single match. This was a team from granada of the Second Division B. The match was played in a sold-out Municipal Isleño Stadium, with more than 4.500 spectators. Valencia CF, current europe's runner-up and leader of the spanish league made the most ridiculous situation.
The first half was terrible. Valencia didn't show any attitude and Guadix scored three goals. Cuper saw it so bad, that the made two changes in the half time. In a crazy minute Valencia CF scored twice, and the result was 3-2. Things seemed to go better, but Samuel scored again (4-2). A desperated Valencia, attacked with no quarter. Three minutes before the end, Zahovic scored the 4-3. The referee Carmona gave six minutes more, and whistled a penalty on Angulo. Zahovic, tied the match in the very last moments.
In the extra-time, Sánchez hit the wood twice. And in the penalty shoot-out, Angulo missed his kick and Guadix qualified.

The trajectory of our team in the 2000/2001 Champions League can not be considered as dissapointing. Valencia made a very brilliant performance, admired by the whole continent. The defeat in the second consecutive final match final match, versus Bayern Munchen, was an injustice, but everybody was proud of Valencia's season, that had reached a place between the big european clubs.
Just the same as in the last season, Valencia CF didn't qualify directly, and had to play a qualifying round versus Tirol Innsbruck. The dirst leg match was played on August 9th, 2000, at the Tivoli Stadion in Innsbruck, and Valencia couldn't achieve more than a tie without goals. The seasond leg was easy for Valencia CF, and was played on August 23rd, in a sold-out Mestalla. Valencia CF won 4-1 and qualified for the Champions League.
Valencia was this time head of series, and was luckier than the previous season in the draws. In the first group stage Valencia was in the same group as Olympique Lyonnais (France), Olimpiakos (Greece) and SC Heerenveen (Netherlands). Valencia completed a great stage and qualified mathematically in the 4th match. On September 12th, 2000, Valencia defeated Olympiakos 2-1 at Mestalla, with goals by Baraja and Diego Alonso. In the second match, played on September 20th, 2000, Valencia played at Abe Lenstra Stadium in Heerenveen. Cuper's team won thanks to a lucky goal by Kily González. In the third week, Valencia showed its potential and defeated al Olympique 1-0 at Mestalla, with a goal by Zahovic after a good assistance by Juan Sánchez.
On October 17th, 2000, Valencia played at Gerland Stadium in Lyon, France. In a superb match, Valencia CF qualified for the second stage, and was the only tam in Europe that had won all the matches. Valencia CF was in a great shape. Nevetheless, in the following match played on October 25th de Octubre, 2000, Valencia CF lost its first match in Europe at Olympiakos, in the Spiros Louis Stadium. The team needed just one point to finish as leader of the group, and in the last match, Valencia tied 1-1 versus SC Heerenveen at Mestalla, on November 7th, 2000.
The second group stage, and Valencia CF joined the Group A, after the UEFA draw, with Manchester United, SK Sturm Graz and Panathinaikos FC, team of the ex-valencian Goran Vlaovic. It was not a very hard group, except for the english team, but Valencia made another spectacular performance and not only qualified for the quarter finals, but did it as leader of the group. In the first match at Mestalla played on November 21st, 2000, Valencia defeated the austrian Sturm Graz 2-0, with goals by Carew and Sánchez. On December 6th, Valencia played at Panathinaikos, but couldn't achieve more than a draw without goals in Athens. Then, on February 14th, 2001, the first challenge arrived. Manchester United came back to Mestalla a year later. Both teams played a sensational match, but it finised 0-0.
In the following match, played on February 20th, 2001, Valencia CF and Manchester United met again at Old Trafford. In an unforgettable match, Valencia won one point in the last minute after a great play by Vicente. Two matches were left and Valencia played wonderfully. In the visit to the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium in Graz (Austria), Valencia defeated Sturm Graz 5-0 in a spectacular match. Finally, on March 13th, 2001, Mestalla lived a great night with the goals of Sánchez and Anglomá, that allowed our Valencia overcome the match and win 2-1, qualifying for the quarter-finals as leaders.
In the quarter-finals Valencia CF had to play versus another historical english team, Arsenal FC. Arsenal was in a great shape but Valencia CF had no fear. In the first leg match at Highbury Park, played on April 4th, 2001, Valencia CF took advantage with a goal scored by Ayala. Nevertheless, Arsenal overcame the result with the goals of Henry and Parlour. Things were not easy for Mestalla's match.
Against all odds, Mestalla was sold-out on April 17th, 2001, to attend one of the most thrilling matches in the history of our club. The initial 0-0 left Valencia out. The team had a lot of opportunities but didn't manage to score. The supporters were nervous, desperation invaded the stadium, but suddenly John Carew and scored with his head and. The stadium exploded in joy to celebrate Valencia's access to the semifinals.
And in the semifinals, another english team that was in a good shape, Leeds United. In the first leg match, played at Ellan Road on May 2nd, 2001, Valencia defended well the english hard attack and finished the match 0-0. Back at Mestalla, on May 8th, 2001, Valencia CF was a hurricane that blew Leeds with dos goals by Sánchez and one by Mendieta. Valencia won 3-0 and reached the second consecutive final match.
The great day arrived, the final match. On May 23rd, 2001, the valencian supporters lived one of the most bitter nights of the history, even worse than last season's. Everything was prepared, thousands of valencians had travelled with the team to San Siro Stadium. The rival was a great team, Bayern Munchen, but Valencia CF was not scared. Nobody could imagine how this adventure was about to end.
The match couldn't start better for Valencia CF, because in the 2nd minute Mendieta scored a penalty kick. A few minutes later, the dutch referee Dick Jol whistled another penalty, this time against Valencia, but Cañizares stopped it. The supporters could not be happier, but at the beginning of the second half, Bayern scored the tie after a doubtful penalty. Cúper decided to replace Aimar for Albelda, a strange change that showed his intentions. From here till the end, fear on both sides and few goal opportunities. Only in the last twenty minutes, Valencia recovered some strength with Zahovic on the field. No mistakes and the final whistle arrived with 0-0.
The extra-time was a match in which no team wanted to make mistakes. Nevertheless, Valencia CF had the best opportunities, but no goal was scored. Bayern was looking for the golden goal with the whole team. But it was not a matter of forwards anymore. The germans were in a better physical shape, and Valencia had enough with defending. The match finished and the penalty shoot-out arrived.
Seven penalties shot each team before the end. First, Paulo Sergio missed and Mendieta scored (0-1). Salihamidzic scored and so did Carew (1-2), Zickler scored but Kahn stopped Zahovic's kick (2-2). Andersson's shot was stopped by Cañizares, but then Kahn stopped Carboni's one, in a really bad lucky penalty, because the ball hit the wood. It was the decisive penalty (2-2). Effenberg scored and Baraja too (3-3), Lizarazu scored and so did Kily González (4-4). And then, the lethal round, Linke scored his shot but Pellegrino missed it. Kahn stopped the penalty (5-4) and Bayern was proclaimed european champion. Tragedy knocked the valencian supporters down, nobody could belive what had happened, two consecutive final matches lost, and this time, more painfully. Cañizares was the image of desolation when he received the runner-up medal. His tears and moans, affected the valencian supporters. Everybody knew that it was time to stand up stronger than ever, like the champions do. And so we all did, the valencian spirit reacted, because the team had reached a place between the biggest clubs. The championships, playing this way, were to come sooner or later.