Baraja: "The third time doesn't lie" © EuroFootball.com

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panish champions midfielder Ruben Baraja is trying to forget the Champions League finals of 2000 and 2001 ahead of tonight's UEFA Cup final, in which Valencia lost to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.

"I hope that finally we will be able to win the trophy," said Baraja. "I also hope that the two defeats in the Champions League finals will not weigh on the players."

"This should actually be useful for us," continued Baraja. "Almost all the players in the team played in one or even both finals, and this experience will be very useful for us."

"We arrived very nervous and tense to those two finals," said the Spanish national team player in a press conference. "This final is not as important as the previous ones. This should work in our favor, it will be easier psychologically."

"Additionally, there is an optimistic mood in the team. After winning the Spanish championship, we are no longer burdened with the obligation to necessarily win something," Baraja concluded.