Baraja: “We are working to be at our best against CD Leganés”

Valencia CF coach, Rubén Baraja, spoke ahead of his side’s Friday night fixture against CD Leganés at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

Jesús Vázquez out

“There are no more players out for this match, apart from the usual ones. He had an incident in the training match that stretched his adductor too much and he will be out for three weeks.”

CD Leganés

“They are a team that had a great campaign last season in terms of solidity and organisation. This year, the energy that the Primera División gives you and the motivation they have makes them a dangerous opponent, due to their variations. We must try to do things well and concentrate on ourselves, beyond respecting them. We have to be at our best.”

Confidence in Baraja

"I feel supported and 100% calm. I am confident that this change in the dynamic of results can occur and I am working towards it. If I didn't think like this, I probably wouldn't be here."

The evolution of the season

"I continue to believe in the process, in the moment, and we also have to put things into context. We had planned for this start; we didn't expect to have so few points, but it could happen. We can't be overdramatic and we have to focus on the game, and know that tomorrow we have to improve many things. Everyone is self-critical, the players understand that and we are going to try to do it tomorrow.”

Possible change to the formation

“We will try to find the best solutions to have a good game. We are going to try to get the team to compete well.”

Gayà

“I think that if any team loses their captain or one of their best players, it will obviously be noticeable. You have to accept that. The important thing is that he is doing well and the idea is to see how he progresses, so that when he returns, he will be back with a guarantee of competing. We are optimistic.”

Squad

“During the week we have worked on things and I hope that tomorrow the players will respond. Although, we must not forget that in any situation I am the one who is most responsible for everything that happens -both the good and the bad.”

Meetings with the club

“I have always thought that when there are many meetings it is because something is going wrong, and I have not had that feeling. I feel 100% supported. I concentrate my energy on my job and I have to handle situations in the best possible way. There has been nothing special (in terms of communication). They trust in my work, in us and in everything working out. It gives me peace of mind.”

Differences when playing away from Mestalla

“When you are not competitive, you are not consistent, and on top of that you are in this dynamic -in which every mistake or error turns into a goal-, it is an added difficulty that affects you emotionally. At home, perhaps, the players feel stronger. I make them feel that as the big club that we are, we have to try to compete both at home and away, whoever plays.”

The upcoming schedule

“Leganés is our next game. The objective has been set quite clearly and it is to try not to suffer, to have to fight as little as possible at the bottom. It should not surprise us. We are playing a side who have also competed quite well at home, it is going to be difficult and we have to try to get points and change the dynamic away from home.”

Atlético de Madrid’s sanction

“Everyone can have their opinion and I respect everyone's opinion. I'm not going to judge anything. The only thing I can say is that for me we religiously complied with the sanction the league imposed on us, but it was unfair. I am clear that all types of violence must be eradicated -in football and outside of it.”

His post-match statements after the loss to Real Sociedad

“I always show my feelings and I was very hurt by how the game went. That's football and it can happen. We have to try to make the players understand that these details make the difference in games.”