Aguirre drops bench move and keeps Valencia in its usual place at Mestalla

“I’m neither stubborn nor superstitious,” Aguirre said as he revisited his plan to move Valencia’s bench at Mestalla. The club will keep its usual position this weekend against Athletic; the proposed switch will not be introduced for that match.

The coach confirmed that the idea of moving the team to the bench on the right-hand side of the Tribuna came from him. He nevertheless changed course after seeing the reaction to the proposal and considering the tradition’s symbolic importance. “The strongest argument is tradition: Mestalla’s 103 years in the same place. I won’t be the one to break with tradition, respect for the stadium, the supporters and the bench. They will stay in the same place,” Aguirre explained.

He had already introduced a similar measure while in charge of Mallorca, before considering repeating it at Mestalla. For decades, Valencia have occupied the bench to the left of the Tribuna, close to the home dressing room. The long-established custom had surprised some supporters when a move was proposed.

Mestalla is approaching its final years of operation after more than a century at the same site, adding to the attachment to its familiar features. Valencia will therefore remain beside the home dressing room, and the debate over moving the bench is over before the change has been tried in an official match.