Baraja: “Against FC Barcelona we have to compete at 120%”

Rubén Baraja spoke to the media ahead of Matchday 1 in LALIGA EA Sports, in which his side take on FC Barcelona at Mestalla.

How do you see FC Barcelona?

Preseason is a fine-tuning process, but we have seen a very daring Barça, very vertical, with players with precision who can easily give you passes that lead to goals. With this coach they are looking to be more vertical, faster and play higher up to reach the opposing goal with speed, precision and quality. It is still unknown which starting XI will play, but we have seen an interesting team and we have to respond to that arsenal they have in tomorrow's game. We have to give 120% every game and tomorrow we have a great team in front of us, we are playing at home and there is an intangible that is Mestalla. It’s our team, our stadium, our fans, a full stadium... And that can make us compete with all our weapons to be able to win the game.

Before renewing, you said that there should be a Valencia CF that was pulling in the same direction as you. Do you think that is happening?

I have the enthusiasm, the desire to work and the desire to grow with this group of players. On this difficult path, when one makes a decision like this it is because one thinks that we are going to get better. That is the objective.

Samu Castillejo has returned to training. What is his situation?

Samu is aware of what his situation is, and what I think about his future. He has a contract and he knows what his future will be. There is not much more to say. We have spoken with him, we have told him things clearly, and he has to look for a way out, but as he has a contract we have to respect it and the idea is for him to leave and look for a future in a different place.

What is your opinion on LALIGA EA Sports starting with the market still open?

I would like LALIGA EA Sports to start with the transfer market closed. That would be the correct thing, but we don't have the power to make that decision. It complicates everything because there are still players who can come or go. it's strange, but we have to adapt to this. LALIGA is rigorous with the registrations, they will have their own reasons for doing so, and tomorrow we have a match and all the players who have joined can participate, which for me is what is really important.

How is Mamardashvili's situation?

It's a simple matter: He has a contract with Valencia CF, he's our player and as long as there isn't a different situation I'm not going to evaluate anything else. Tomorrow we have a match. Today he's a Valencia CF player and he's ready to participate in tomorrow's match.

Have you spoken to him? What feelings has he conveyed to you?

The transfer market is open, we're all seeing clubs buy and sell... It's the usual thing in the market. But I'm not going to talk about hypotheses. Tomorrow we have a match, we're focused on that and Giorgi is ready to play.

Are you worried about not having more wingers available?

The transfer market is still open. Obviously to complete the squad we need a player in that specific position of left winger, and we have been talking about it. Anything that raises the level and increases competition is positive, but the feeling is that at this moment, when we have gone into the market to look for that profile, it has not happened. That is the reality. We have not been able to find that player, we are working on it and from there the market will tell.

What is the objective for the season? Is it fair that the fans demand that we improve on last season?

When I refer to improving I mean thinking positively. In life you can think about the positives, about what you can optimise, or complain about what you would like. I stick with the first option: To optimise and get the maximum performance from the team. The first year I was here the objective was to stay up, the next season it was not to suffer or improve the situation of the previous year -which was very difficult for everyone. This year, it is to try to continue thinking about improving and growing, getting better and that the players raise our competitive level. I have a group of players who, with their effort and commitment, support the model that we have at the club. They have a great sense of belonging, a great level of effort and they show it in every game.

Do Valencia CF have the quality to compete in the upcoming LALIGA matches right now?

I'm talking about objective and real data. Our level of investment cannot be high due to the economic limitations and the difficulties that the club are going through. We have to adapt to the situation we have. We want the players to feel passion for the club and that there are players who want to come here to be part of Valencia CF. That is very important. That will give us an advantage during the season.

With Javi Guerra's situation, it was preferred that he not train to protect him. What is the situation with Mamardashvili?

It's very simple: The situation was almost defined, there was an agreement between clubs, Javi  was going to travel and to avoid risks he did a separate training session to the group. I am not aware that Giorgi's case is the same, he is another player just like Javi Guerra is and I have them available for tomorrow.

If only one winger came in , would you be satisfied with the squad or would you need something else?

I have said that, to complete a squad, the more possibilities the better. There may be arrivals, departures... the market is open and we can strengthen and improve. Right now, we are missing a player in that position and we are working on it. So far we have not been able to bring him in, but there is still time in the market and with hard work we will find the number of players we need. I want 20 players plus three extra, two players per position and good competition to improve as a team.

Have you had a proposal to renew your contract?

When you are going to renew you have to feel the energy, feel that in that path you are on you can contribute things and that you have a group of players who believe in you and are going to try to carry out your ideas. Their commitment and effort is beyond any doubt. I know the situation at the club, where we are and where I want to go. We have to earn our way forward by competing, winning games and getting points. My goal is to improve and be ambitious, always overcoming difficulties. I have my energy focused on the competition, on the possibilities of winning tomorrow and on valuing my team and the players, knowing that we have to play at 120%. That, added to the fact that Mestalla always responds and the start of the LALIGA EA Sports season is demanding, seems to me to be a great motivation to start the season.

How is Javi Guerra?

Javi had a situation in which an agreement was reached, everything was defined and then it fell through He is a committed player, he wants to do things well at Valencia CF, he has a contract, he loves Valencia CF and he will want to give his all for the team. My players do not generate any doubts for me.

Have the market rumours made you think about the role that Mamardashvili may have tomorrow?

No. Giorgi has a contract with Valencia CF and until I am told otherwise, he is in my plans. If he does not sign a contract with another team, he is just another member of the squad.

How are Diego López and Fran Pérez? Have the injuries made you consider bringing in another winger?

Diego has come in with a discomfort, but he is fine, he has trained normally. Sergi Canós is about to fully recover from his injury and we are worried about Fran because he has been suffering from discomfort for some time. We need to know what his recovery process will be like and that could put us on alert if his problem is not resolved, but it is true that there are players who work in that same position and we would have to assess what options there are. The players who come always have to come with us thinking about improving the possibilities we have. And if one leaves and another comes in, it is to improve performance. A player is not going to come just for the sake of it, that is why we are opting for homegrown players.

What is Cenk's situation and how do you see the progress of César Tárrega and Yarek?

We are optimistic about their progress and performance, they carry a significant weight for their age. Last year Yarek played 13 or 14 games with the first team, he is ready to compete with guarantees, he comes back having been of the best in the U-19 Euros, where the best of his age play, and we fully trust in him. That’s also the case for César, who comes back from a loan in which he has grown and he has improved. And also for Cenk. The market is open, all teams have players taken away, the market is like that. I spoke before renewing about trying to maintain the block of players and until now there has not been any big departure of players that could upset the block. There are realities that we cannot control, but we see situations of players who leave their clubs for a lot of money and we cannot control that.

What can the fans be encouraged by with the team?

What we can offer them. If there is something that is important for Mestalla, it is that the player represents the values that I have felt here, that the player tries hard and gives his all. If we play well, then all the better. If we win, then even better. We work so that our fans feel identified with what the team can do and that is my maxim. If the results are good, we will complete what a coach wants: that the team identify with the fans and win games.

What would be more important: Keeping important players or being able to get an important player to leave to incorporate several players?

I am not going to go into hypotheses and the like. The pre-season should serve to get us in competitive shape and try to get the best possible team. We must be attentive to the market while it is open in case any situation arises that gives us solutions, but we can’t be talking about hypotheses... The reality is that with 15 days to go the market is open, there can always be movements, and we are working to improve. Last season Alberto was injured and Hugo Duro was our only forward. Today we have four healthy players and they are ready to compete. Let's look at the positive things and work on what we can improve.