The Carlos Corberán Revolution: How Valencia Have Been Saved From Relegation

The Extremes Of Los Ches

If you asked a thousand people, “Why do you support your club?”, you'd likely get a wide range of unique answers - from the prospect of victory to the sense of belonging in a local community - each with its own nuance and individuality.

Those answers would also likely have just one common factor: emotional involvement.

Whether it’s the anticipation of a day out at Wembley, or the thrill of avoiding relegation on the final day, we all follow clubs because we care about what happens to them. And it can be exhausting.

🇪🇸 Valencia lost 7-1 a few weeks back and are in real danger of a first relegation from La Liga since 1986.

We thought we’d take a look back at some of the best players to have played for this massive and historic football club that you might’ve forgot about.

THREAD 🧵 pic.twitter.com/stoivy8Jhx

— The European Football Express (@TheEuroFE) February 4, 2025

None more so than for fans of Valencia. Since the turn of the century, they have experienced their club winning La Liga but have also spent time in the heat of a relegation battle.

It is the latter of these that Carlos Corberán inherited when he became Valencia’s manager on Christmas Day last year, with the club sat in 19th. Merry Christmas, Carlos.

Fast forward three months, and Valencia have just won at the Bernabeu for the first time since 2008. Corberán has spearheaded a cultural and tactical transformation that has seen Los Ches recover to 14th losing just three league games since Christmas.

Tactical Tweaks

Corberán is renowned for implementing fluid, transition-focused football and allowing his sides to be comfortable both in and out possession. In possession, Valencia have become confident playing out from the back, employing traps to draw out an opponent’s press. Corberán encourages short sidewards passes from goal kicks, involving a double pivot and full backs that remain high and wide.

These short passes are designed to draw the opponent over to one side of the pitch, which in turn creates space for the opposite full back on the other side to seize possession and run into. All the wIt is a movement that has seen great success – combining a slow build-up with a fast attacking transition.

As a result of this, Valencia rank 9th for completed switches in La Liga this season, despite being 14th for total possession.

When Carlos Corberán took over at Valencia last December, they were joint bottom of La Liga, four points off safety.

Since then, they’ve won at Real Madrid, losing only to Barcelona and Atlético, and are now seven points clear of relegation.

An excellent turnaround. 🇪🇸🦇 pic.twitter.com/UogxMTc84e

— Coaches' Voice (@CoachesVoice) April 9, 2025

When they lose the ball, Valencia’s defensive actions are very situational. If the opportunity arises, they are keen to win the ball back in the final third, but tend not to overcommit players forward, forming and maintaining a solid 4-4-2 out of possession, in a very similar shape to how Arsenal operate in their defensive phase.

This is reflected in the fact that Valencia rank 6th in La Liga for tackles in the final third, but also 5th for tackles in the defensive third.

Corberán’s tactical tweaks have allowed Valencia to cope better in all phases of the game.

New Confidence

While there have been clear tactical changes, the biggest transformation for Corberán’s Valencia has been their mental fortitude and doggedness. He said this after their victory at the Bernabeu on Saturday:

“You can’t separate the emotional from the tactical. It’s impossible. Faced with a setback like Real Madrid’s goal, having the mental strength to pick ourselves up, not let our heads drop, and keep believing has been extremely important”.

🤯👏 Carlos Corberan has done an excellent job since joining Valencia. 📈

He has earned them 22 points since he took over, steering them away from the relegation battle.

Plus, beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu... it was Valencia's FIRST away win in La Liga this season. pic.twitter.com/SxjRC59ZF2

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 5, 2025

Corberán has been very public in his intentions to create a sense of unity within the club and ensuring that his players remain highly motivated and committed to each other.

This, alongside his tactical tweaks, has instilled a newfound confidence into his Valencia side, who now look almost certain to stay up and set a strong platform for next season.