Baraja: “Believing until the end kept us alive”

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja spoke to the media in his post-match press conference following his side’s 2-2 draw with RCD Espanyol at Mestalla.

Analysis of the match and the late goal

It is a goal that has a lot of value because of the point it gave us. It was a night full of emotions, with a very good first half -one of the best we've seen so far this season- with chances to take the lead even before we made it 1-0. They scored from the first opportunity that they had and we started the second half well, but their goal to make it 1-2 hit us hard and the team suffered with it.

When you see everything you've done to win and find yourself 1-2 down, it's hard, but there is something that this club and this stadium have and that is that -with the support of the fans- we fight until the last minute. We made it 2 -2, which is positive. It's a goal worth a point and leaves us with our chances intact for next Sunday's game.

The situation at the end

It is a day of many emotions in every way. The goal that made it 1-2 affected us, but fighting and believing until the end and having the faith that we had to equalise keeps us alive. In the final stages we did not have information about all the results and possible tiebreaker permutations in the event of draws and three-way ties.

Now we have to prepare this week and the next game well and compete as we did today, as at times we were at a good level. Things affect you when you see that you are the better team, you play to win and you make a mistake that gives life to the opposition.

We also have to commiserate Espanyol, who have gone down. These are difficult times for them and it is difficult to handle those emotions.

At the end of the game we didn't know if we were safe or not. If we don't score a point in Seville there is a possible set of circumstances that would take us down, but we are optimistic and we think that we can score points in Seville. We have to focus on the game and on ourselves, and go to Seville to play a good game to seal survival.

The confusion at the final whistle

We had no information. And we were all a bit waiting for someone to tell us what could happen on the next matchday.

We made a tremendous effort to level the game, with our fans who were here today. We remembered those who could not come today as well. The rest of them pushed us on until the end, and that faith and that boost from Mestalla is very important for us. It gave us the chance to score the point.

The mood amongst the players

I think we took their equaliser to make it 1-1 well. They scored and we didn't give up and went for it until the end of the first half. We knew that it could happen and that it was important to know how to handle these things. Their goal to make it 1-2 was very hard for us. It was an unusual goal because Mamardahsvili is normally so secure in those actions. The team had more courage than good football, because RCD Espanyol dropped further back and left no space, but we found a way inside to make it 2-2.

The relegation battle continuing until the last day of the season

It is something that can happen. When you're down at the bottom, sometimes you have two games where you don't play well. In Mallorca the normal result would have been a draw, because they only had one chance, and today doing things very well we only got one point. Sometimes the dynamic hinders you.

Nobody assumed  that we were safe. Until this is achieved, we have to go forward with the strength of thinking that we can achieve survival in the next game. The situation is what it is.

Today we had a team in front of us that played a good game and went down to the Segunda Division. We have to prepare this week, focus on what is important and make the last push in Seville.

Attitude

It has not been a question of lacking attitude. There are situations that can occur in a game that generate distrust and nervousness. Players are people and it also affects them. It was difficult to try to handle things to avoid going 1-3 down and for us to be able to look for the equaliser. We tried to change things and look for crosses into the area. In the end, by pushing and by having believed until the end, we got the equaliser. The players arrived in the locker room exhausted. It has not been a matter of attitude. The opposition scored two goals in two specific actions and you have to be able to handle that. We found it a little more difficult but in the final stages we got a deserved draw, based on what we saw in the game.

Diakhaby and Cavani

We have chosen to look for another type of strategy to start with than when Edinson plays. We wanted combinations in the middle to be able to go outside with Lato, who did well up to when he received the knock. With Diego López and Justin Kluivert we had a lot of speed when we stole the ball. Cavani came on in the moment that we considered opportune.

As for Diakhaby, he is a person who is completely free to do what he wants and we love him as he is.

Toni Lato's injury

He suffered a knock and wanted to continue, but he could hardly breathe. We are going to see how he recovers, but it seems that it is nothing serious and nothing has been affected. He was having a very good game and it's a pity, but we'll see if we can get him back for Sunday.

The contributions from young players

Undoubtedly the young players lack experience, but on the other hand they have something that I love which is energy and consistent effort. Being in the Valencia CF first team is something that drives them because their future is at stake. They give us energy, fresh legs until the end and we look for the best for the team, but we still need to finish the job on Sunday.

Dead ball situations

This team has some characteristics, with strengths and weaknesses. Some things we do very well and others we find harder. Set pieces depend on attention, concentration and marking Today it was an action that came after a throw-in, a rebound with a cross that we did not close down well and a good shot. That's football. RCD Espanyol  searched for it, continually looking for corners and free kicks. We have one game left and we have to ensure that the positive things stand out above the negative ones. We have improved on set pieces, but they continue to hinder us.

Betis vs. Valencia CF

We have to assess during the week, as we are still assimilating what happened today. We will try to go into the game in Seville with our options intact and play to earn points; if it is three points, then all the better, but a single point is also a possibility. We have to go for the game against a great side like Betis, but it is in our own hands. We have already shown on occasions that we are capable, when nobody thought we could, we have won away from home -and we can do it again.

Managing emotions

The team are prepared. Just as we saw them compete today, they have the chance to play a good game in Seville and achieve survival. There are other results involved and other teams have to win, which is not easy -as has been seen. But we focus on ourselves, which is the fundamental thing