Valencia dedicated Thursday to commemorating two tragedies that marked its recent history: the Urda train accident in Toledo and the second anniversary of the 2024 disaster. During a session at the Paterna Sports City, the squad held a minute of silence in memory of the victims and, after the tribute, got to work preparing for the regional duel against Elche, which will be played on Sunday at the Martínez Valero.
The team, led by Javier Aguirre, seeks to recover its injured players in order to have the most complete squad possible. Among those in the process of returning are Umar Sadiq, José Copete and Dimitri Foulquier. Sadiq, who was in the recovery zone after a right hamstring injury suffered on September 30, has returned to training with the group and is feeling good. If he continues at this pace, he could be called up for the first time since his injury. Copete, who has been out since February 22 due to a meniscus injury in his left knee, and Foulquier, who has not played a game since February 1 due to knee problems, are also on the list of possible squads for the match with Elche.
The Copa del Rey match against Tavernes, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed to Tuesday, November 10 due to the train accident. Despite this postponement, Valencia remains focused on achieving its first victory under the direction of Aguirre, although it will have to rely on a limited squad, since the injured David Otorbi, Diego López and Sergi Canós will not be available for the duel with Elche.
In the minute of silence, sports director Braulio Vázquez also remembered the dana of 2024, expressing on social networks the club's gratitude to all those who participated in the help and reconstruction after the tragedy. "Two years later, the same feeling. Always with our land. Today we want to remember all the victims and thank everyone who helped in the reconstruction of our land after the tragic Dana of 2024," the entity published.
With final preparation underway and uncertainty over the availability of some key players, Valencia faces a significant challenge. The result of the match against Elche will be decisive for the team's confidence and for the consolidation of the new stage under the direction of Aguirre. The fans hope that the squad will be able to overcome the difficulties and achieve a victory that marks the beginning of a positive campaign.