Baraja: “It’s a derby and Mestalla will be important”

Valencia CF coach, Rubén Baraja, gave a press conference before the team’s regional derby at Mestalla against Villarreal CF, which takes place on January 2nd.  

The match

“Villarreal CF are a team who have something special in this type of game, due to the intensity and emotion of it being a regional derby. Let's hope that we put on a nice show and that the game goes our way. It is an important match against great opponents, we are playing at Mestalla and we know the characteristics of Villarreal CF. We have to have a high-level game and try to think that it is very important for us to win it.”

Amallah

“He is no longer here because he has to join his national team on January 1st. We have tried every way, including communicating with the Moroccan Football Federation and their coach, and they have given us reasonable explanations regarding the situation and we won’t have him on Tuesday, just like with Diakhaby.”

Midfield

“There is still time before the game and we are evaluating things. Hugo Guillamón has come in and has a good feeling, he has performed at a good level in these two games in which Javi Guerra has been suspended. It's still early and there are days ahead before the match. This time of year is dangerous due to flu bugs and you cannot know until the day of the game.”

Players sidelined

“We try to give them the message to be responsible and be careful. But this happens and that's it. Hugo Duro and Javi Guerra have hardly been able to train and we will see how they develop.”

The match

“Villarreal CF is a team that has something special in this type of match due to the intensity and emotion of being a regional derby. Let's hope to put on a nice show and that it falls on our side. It is an important match against a great rival, we play at Mestalla and we know the characteristics of Villarreal CF. We have to play a high-level game and try to think that it is very important for us to win it.”

Defences

“Anyone who is available can participate and we will choose based on the games and their performance. There are going to be a lot of games and they are all going to be important.”

Villarreal CF's defensive problems

“Marcelino will analyse his team. What I am clear about is that since his arrival there is an improvement process that will put them in a better position than now. His career backs that up. At Valencia CF he achieved success, won a trophy and had a very good spell here.”

The kickoff time

“I don't know if it will influence things. It's late and if it's humid, it's more difficult to have a lot of people attending. But my feeling is that the response from the fans has been magnificent throughout the season and we already saw that at the open training session; there were 15,000 people there and we made the children -who are the engine and the heart of our fanbase- and the team enjoy themselves. Mestalla always guarantees that predisposition to support us and we have to do what they demand of us to play a good game. Mestalla is going to be important and the fans are going to have the enthusiasm and desire to see the team compete. It is important that our fans are there, supporting us.”

Mestalla

“Our wish would be that, through this entire difficult process, that this be the beginning of something that means in the future we will be fighting for competitions that historically we have always have been in. The key is to have the fans by our side. Something that is very notable this season is the unity between the team and the fans. It generates a certain excitement for them to see players who leave everything on the pitch, and the energy that the team transmits is what makes our fans come to the games, believe in us and spur us on. Having the fans and the team together makes Valencia CF stronger. We’re grateful for their presence and support.”

Analysing 2023 and wishes for 2024

“I would like to start the year well, with a victory at Mestalla and I am not thinking about much else. I hope that we do not lose track of the demands required, of competing, of the difficulty of each match, and the goal is getting closer. Anything else is a long-term desire.”

The Valencia CF attack

“We think that the most important thing is the team. There will be times when a player is more successful in front of goal, but we think about the overall situation and improving all aspects of the game. We try to do an analysis with the objective of growing and improving in the second half of the season, and for everyone to participate. The behaviour from the players so far has been very positive.”

Mosquera

“It's a question of common sense. He is a young player who had not had a consistent run and experience, and we are taking the chance on the possibility of him being in the first team, participating and being important. He, through his performance, continuity and stability -logically with mistakes and successes along the way, like all players- has been growing with that steady improvement. He is a dedicated player, who listens to you, wants to learn and has a lot of ambition. His growth is thanks to his efforts. You have to trust in him and you have to play him, but he is the one who is developing thanks to his effort. We don't gift anything to anyone. Everyone who participates does so because he deserves it and has worked for it, and his challenge is to maintain this level of performance during the season. That will make him consolidate himself at Valencia CF and in professional football.”