Valencia fans blast Peter Lim during rare open training session at Mestalla
Around 5,000 Valencia supporters turned up for the club's only public training session of the year, using the occasion to voice their displeasure with owner Peter Lim.
Despite the cold weather, thousands of Valencia faithful packed into Mestalla to watch their team train - but they weren’t just there to support the players during the festive period.
Around 5,000 fans braved the chilly conditions in Valencia for the club’s only open training session of the year. What should have been a purely celebratory family occasion quickly turned into another platform for supporters to express their ongoing frustration with club owner Peter Lim.
Anti-Lim sentiment remains strong
The Singapore businessman has become about as popular as a pork pie at a bar mitzvah among the Valencia fanbase. Thunderous chants against Lim - which have become a regular soundtrack at Mestalla over recent years - echoed around the stadium multiple times during the session.
It’s no mystery why the fans have their knickers in a twist. Since Lim’s takeover, Valencia have:
- Plummeted from Champions League regulars to mid-table mediocrity
- Broken numerous negative records in the club’s history
- Seen countless star players sold without adequate replacements
- Endured a revolving door of managers
Team shows appreciation despite tension
Despite the charged atmosphere, both captain José Gayà and manager Carlos Corberán took time to address the supporters and thank them for their unwavering support.
Corberán was particularly heartfelt, telling the crowd: “For us, from the heart, you are the best thing we have.”
On the footballing front, there were some minor concerns as Pepelu and Tárrega missed the session due to illness, while Dimitrievski remains sidelined with injury. However, the two Spanish players are expected to recover in time for Valencia’s next match on January 3rd.
The turnout, despite the protests, demonstrates that while Valencia fans may despise their owner, their love for the club remains undiminished as they hope for better fortunes in the new year.