Angulo: They Broke My Heart and Koeman Speaks

By: Cesar | December 21st, 2007

The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I can’t BELIEVE the club I love so much would do this to players we care about so much.

They deserved to sit and not play for rubbish performances. They didn’t deserve to have their noses rubbed in it.

I’m embarrassed at the way Valencia’s handled this.
I’m sick at how the people running the team have no conscience; no respect for people who’ve sweat and given of themselves with that shirt on.

Disgraceful. But it’s the way of modern sports, here in the States and abroad. It’s all about the bottom-line. Saving face. Protecting your back. And human dignity goes out the window when that comes into play.

Who cares if Albelda cries, Canizares is angry and Angulo’s heart is broken right?

I know someone like me with my old-school opinions mean nothing to the people at Valencia.
But I really thought they were better than this.
Anyways …

More updates …

First, Miguel Angel Angulo says his heart’s broken over being sacked by coach Ronald Koeman. He’s been at Valencia for 11 years and played his entire career here except for one season at neighboring Villarreal. To watch a video of his press conference, click here …

“They broke my heart and it is going to take a long time for the scar to heal,” he said during a press conference.

“The pain is very strong. I have not started to think that I will wear a different shirt yet because I have a lot of love for Valencia. I have to move on and to advance.”

“The club have always treated me well and nicely. I have always felt like at home. As I am here since such a long time, I planned to finish here in a couple of years.

“The most catastrophic thing is that I will not be able to say goodbye to the fans. The only thing I can do is tell them “thank you” for having made me feel at home.

“I don’t feel humiliated and I don’t think that they will try to do it. They could with lies and defamation, but I keep the titles, the commitment and the efforts I made for the club.”

I made fun of you a lot but I salute you, Angulo. You always made us proud.

On a personal side note, Angulo scored the first ever Valencia goal I saw live. The picture on the left is his celebration of that goal, a scorcher past Iker Casillas in the first game of the 2001-02 season against Real Madrid at the Mestalla. I had tickets close to the field with no idea if Valencia could take out the Spanish giants, who were fielding all-world superstar Zinedine Zidane for the first time.

But 7 minutes in, Angulo receives the ball and belts one past Casillas for the winner, 1-0. Pandemonium at the Mestalla … good memories.

Also, do you remember when Angulo almost went to Arsenal? Good luck, Miguel …

Meanwhile, Koeman justified his decision to drop three of Valencia’s most experienced players as necessary to change the attitude within the squad.

“I believe the team had to change, to have people with more enthusiasm and a greater hunger, and it starts with these decisions,” Koeman told sports daily Marca on Friday.

“I have seen things that I haven’t liked from the start and I have changed them. No one has told me to do this. It is a sporting matter.”

“Since the first day I’ve come to many conclusions – on and off the field – about changing things that needed changing. Had I not done this, I could not continue as coach.”

“I’m not going to use them any more and that’s all. From this point there is another way forward with people who are excited about (the team),” said the former Benfica and Ajax coach. “I think that Valencia needs these changes … There are (other) players with more hope and greater hunger.”

Ok … don’t deny what he said. Again, have some class about it at least.