Valencia’s Gabriel brought to tears amid relegation talk

Valenia defender Gabriel Paulista broke down in tears during a post-match interview on Saturday when it was suggested his side were in a relegation fight after a 3-0 defeat at Getafe left them six points above La Liga’s drop zone.

Asked what it was like to go from challenging for Champions League qualification each year to looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation places, Paulista lost composure and could barely respond.

“Hearing that is terrible, when you consider how big a club Valencia are and then to hear [about the threat of relegation] is awful,” Paulista told broadcaster Movistar Plus.

“But we’re going to turn this around, we have many games left and we’re going to improve and return Valencia to where they deserve to be.”

The interviewer wished Paulista luck before ending the segment and the player continued to shed tears before being consoled by Valencia’s press officer.

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Six times league winners and Champions League runners-up in 2000 and 2001, Valencia are one of Spain’s biggest clubs but have endured plenty of ups and downs in the last decade.

They had a recent resurgence which saw them qualify for the Champions League in consecutive seasons and win the Copa del Rey but have been on a downward spiral since coach Marcelino was sacked in 2019 after falling out with owner Peter Lim.

They reached the Champions League quarterfinals last year but have struggled this season amid a financial crisis exacerbated by the novel coronavirus pandemic.