Gaizka Mendieta had a memorable time at the Mestalla playing the Champions League final in two successive seasons.

While in 1999-2000, Valencia lost to Real Madrid, the next season it was Bayern Munich who beat them.

Now Mendieta, who was known for his vision and passing, is upbeat about Valencia’s 2019-20 season. Valencia host Real Sociedad in their first match of La Liga on Saturday and the former Spanish international is excited.

“Everyone is more excited than usual after winning the Spanish Cup last season. And not just because of the trophy… I think it’s because the ‘project’ is really settling in.

“People see the results, the players, the team… How everything is working together towards the same objective,” he told The Telegraph in an email communication.

Mendieta believes players like Goncalo Guedes and Daniel Parejo hold the key to Valencia’s fortunes this season. “It’s exciting to see players like Guedes. He is very important to the team. Parejo too will be someone coach Marcelino Garcia Toral will be banking on.

“Carlos Soler is young, but I think he should play more this year. He was very important at the end of last season. Let’s see what happens with Rodrigo,” he added.

Atletico Madrid were wooing Rodrigo with a mouth-watering offer, but according to an agency report, Valencia chief Mateo Alemany has said that the move to Wanda Metropolitano is off as of now.

“I think the main thing is that the club, the coach and the players all know what they’re doing this season,” Mendieta said.

According to Mendieta, it will be challenging for Valencia since they will be playing in the Champions League too. “It’ll be challenging as they’ll be playing in the Champions League. Being involved in so many competitions is very demanding.

“But when you’re at a team like Valencia, you need to be up to the standards that people expect,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ruben de la Red Gutierrez feels Getafe coming close to qualify for the Europa League is in itself a huge achievement.

“We all hoped that Getafe could have got into the Champions League. They put together an incredible campaign, but competing against strong teams like Sevilla isn’t easy. They came really close, but qualifying for the Europa League is in itself still a huge achievement for the club.”

Gutierrez also heaped praise on coach Jose Bordalas.

“Bordalas put together a very tight-knit team that was tough to play against. Defensively, they were incredibly hard working. And in attack they had some great players. Angel and Molina worked very well together, and the addition of Jaime Mata last summer was crucial.

“The mood in the camp looks upbeat and you know how it feels when something like this happens… You guys achieved similar things in 2007. I think they’ll feel the same excitement we felt when we reached the quarter finals of the old Uefa Cup.

“We generated a lot of excitement across Spain and I think Getafe can recreate that wonderful feeling this season.”

Gutierrez feels Getafe should try to maintain the momentum from last season in La Liga. “The aim for this season should be to recreate the same excitement of last season.”