Baraja: "Our ambition and our challenge is to be able to get points away from home as well"

Valencia CF take on Atletico Madrid away from home this weekend, and coach Rubén Baraja talked to the media in his pre-match press conference before the team travelled to the Spanish capital.

Coaching against his former club
"It's a special situation. Atletico Madrid are the club I played for at another time. They are a club that have evolved and grown a lot. They've been at the top for eight or ten years, fighting for titles. They have had continuity in terms of the project, consolidating themselves as one of the best teams in Spain and Europe. I'm happy for them."

Gayà and Cavani's fitness
"With the players who had discomfort, we have tried to take care of them. This is the case for Gayà, who today completed a full training session. He will be available. Cavani will also be available to travel with us. We will be able to have both of them.

"If Cavani is in the squad, then he's an option. We'll take him into account to assess how to set up the starting XI. We'll see if he starts or not. You also have to take into account that games are often won by players who come in off the bench. We will assess him and see if he starts or not."

Gayà's Spain call-up
"It is a reward for his hard work, his career and what he has been doing during the season. If a player is consistent, he has the chance to to play for the national team. It is good for the club and for the player, because it helps his confidence. I'd ask him to only start thinking about the national team after tomorrow's game. I want to keep the players focused."

Diego Simeone's defensive influence
"He is an example when it comes to seeing how a team captures what a coach wants on the pitch. Since he took over at Atletico Madrid they have been a strong team defensively, who are also good in attack. It is difficult to score against them. Continuity is also very important. Hopefully that is something that we can see at Valencia CF. For us this is a challenge and we want to go there and be able to do the things that we have prepared for the game. They are a magnificent team that are playing at home, but we will have our chances."

The team's away form
"It is something that is evident. The numbers say it all. We have to be able to take things that we do at home to compete and do them away from home as well. To do this, we need to be a team, take the games to the limit and be solid and strong. It has been shown that when the team compete well, with solidarity, we can compete against anyone."

Enjoying his dream coaching job
"The job gives you time to enjoy small moments. We have been lucky enough to win a couple of home games and put in good performances. We have continuous growth that allows us to have hope. The faster you settle into the role, the better. There will be moments of enjoyment when we achieve objectives. Now there is more tension, more worry."

Kluivert and Lino
"They are players with some qualities that I really like. They both have speed and dribbling skill. They are good in one-on-one situations and can reach the line. We have to keep them both motivated. The other day Justin scored, and Samu was able to do so too. This is important to me, that their performance is always good."

Reaching the international break out of the relegation zone
"Obviously everything that is positive from tomorrow's game will take us there. We have to be prepared for any situation. There are many clashes between teams near the bottom. The most important thing for us is to focus on each game. Tomorrow we play Atletico Madrid, which will be important. We will try to do things well, be competitive and have the chance to score. We want to pick up enough points to get out of this situation."

Valencia CF's record at the Metropolitano
"Atletico are powerful at home, just as we want to be at Mestalla. They are difficult opponents but we have shown that we can compete anywhere, like we did at the Camp Nou. We have to go there with that thought. It's about being brave, showing our competitive mentality. Atletico don't concede much, they defend well and are always well organised. They're a tough team. They make few mistakes and are very solid but we have to find our way."

Not having met Peter Lim yet
"It's not something that worries me. I have always said that my goal is to work for the club, for Valencia CF. The situation is difficult: It was then and still is. I have conveyed peace of mind. We have means to work here that are fantastic. We want to achieve the objective. There are certain things for me that are not essential in my day to day work. We are prepared for the matches and are analysing the opposition. We want to work hard. Anything else doesn't concern me. I have not spoken with the majority shareholder and it is not something that worries me. What the club have always transmitted to me is that I have total availability of whatever I need to be able to work."

A possible 4-4-2 formation
"We are not going to rule out anything. We have different variants and we will look at that depending on what we see on a day-to-day basis. The good thing is to have players with the possibility of playing in different ways. You can play with two strikers, with a striker and a playmaker, with two inside... It's not the formation, but rather that the players who make it work. For me, the fundamental thing is that they believe in the work we do, regardless of who plays. For me, the most important thing is to feel that the players are in the same dynamic as I am. That they have passion, of belief, and are competing in each game."