'I can't have any bad words' - Pol Valentín shares Sheffield Wednesday message ahead of Hillsborough return
Sheffield Wednesday’s clash with Preston North End will mark Pol Valentín’s first return to Hillsborough since leaving in the summer.
Preston North End defender Pol Valentín is looking forward to returning to Hillsborough for the first time since leaving Sheffield Wednesday during the summer this afternoon.
The Spaniard was released by the Owls following the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign and was swiftly snapped up by North End, signing a three-year deal at Deepdale.
Signed by former Wednesday boss Xisco Muñoz from Sporting Gijón in July 2023, Valentín, following a slow start to life at Hillsborough, played an important role in helping the club complete an unlikely survival mission in the second half of the 2023/24 season under Danny Röhl, racking up 36 Championship appearances.
He became a fans’ favourite during that time, and some Wednesday supporters were surprised when he was released by the club following the end of last season. He made 77 appearances during his time at Hillsborough, scoring two goals.
The 28-year-old was a regular starter for Preston at the beginning of this season until a hamstring injury halted him in his tracks towards the end of September. However, after sitting out eight matches, he returned to the matchday squad for North End’s 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale last Friday night, before making it off the bench against Watford in midweek.
Back in the equation as he looks to make up for lost time, the former Owls ace is looking forward to returning to familiar surroundings, admitting he owes a lot to Wednesday for giving him the opportunity to come and play in England.
Valentín has fond memories of Wednesday
“I think it's going to be a special game for me,” Valentín told Preston’s club website. “Obviously, it's the team that gave me the opportunity to be in this country and in this league.
“I can't have any bad words about the club. When I'm speaking about the club, I'm talking about the people inside the club like the workers, the players and obviously the fans. They were always behind me and pushing me to give a better level. I think they loved me when I was there.
“I think obviously it's a bad situation, a hard situation for all the players. They have minus four points [because] they had the points deduction, but I think everyone is as well trying to fight for the club because they know a new owner is going to come next season.”
On North End’s start to the season, the Spaniard continued: “I think no one expected that at the beginning, but my feeling is we are so competitive. We compete every game.
“I know and we know maybe some bad moments will come, but the good thing about this team is we compete every game. That means we can win every game. It doesn't matter who we play.
“Then I think it's the best point we can have. We know every game we're going to be there. We will have chances to win the game.”