Baraja: “We are going to Mallorca with a strong mentality and with great concentration to get the victory”

Rubén Baraja talked to the media ahead of LaLiga Matchday 9, in which Valencia CF will play RCD Mallorca at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.

The game against RCD Mallorca

"They are a team that we all know. They are a very combative team and are very consistent in their effort. Their statistics show it: They need little to score a goal, they have a standout player who is important for them and is converting the team's work into points. We have to play at the same intensity as them, be consistent and try to do what they do well, which is to be attentive.

We need to make sure that Muriqi does not have his best game, that Darder is not comfortable giving passes. They have variants: They can play with five or four at the back, they can play with two strikers. Javier Aguirre is a person with an impeccable career and great talent, and I like what he transmits in terms of message and values. He has my admiration because he has been a coach for so many years.

We always go into each game to get the 3 points and if history suggests, in terms of statistics, that Mallorca is a place where we can achieve victory, then logically we think we can. We are convinced that we can have a good game and this is our mentality.

Players out injured

Foulquier and Thierry are fine and will be back tomorrow. Tomorrow we will decide if they participate or not.

Vinicius

"Regarding this issue, I already made it clear at the time, the club have also made a statement and I think we made it quite clear when it happened -and afterwards- that there is zero tolerance on racism. It is a closed case and I am not going to go into evaluating this issue.

I think it is evident that Valencia CF made a statement and I refer to that. The feeling I have is that the measures were taken to solve this and it was shown that they had been specific situations and not the entire stadium, as he argues. I refer to the statement made by Valencia CF. We have paid our punishment, we went three games with the stand closed, which had never been done before -even with many reports.

Set pieces

"Excluding the Betis game, we had not conceded as many goals from set pieces. In a season it is always over 30%, or at most 40%. Almost one in three.

We are more or less within those numbers, like other teams. The other day there were two specific actions in which we did not do well, and we put emphasis on that, but they are things that happen in a game.

Mallorca are a team that can hurt you a lot because they have good finishers, but they have also conceded goals from set pieces. We have worked on it and we hope that in the game we can do well."

The international break

We have a break because that is the way the calendar is. Our thinking does not change with this break. We are in the middle of the season, this game is important and we are going to try to do well. We have tried to correct things that we did not do well in Seville during this week, and I hope that in Mallorca we have good response after the Betis game, when the team stopped doing things that we had been doing. We have to have a strong mentality and face each game with great concentration because we need to play at our best in every game and every minute."

We try to do everything possible to prevent this from happening. We work on all the parameters so that the players are at the highest level of fitness. Gayà has played eight games in a row, games with the national team... if you analyse each situation there is part that is not our responsibility, as they also play with their national teams. You have to live with it. You have to try not to let it affect you too much. During the season there are phases like the one now that is not normal, with the 4 fullbacks not being able to participate.

Guillamón

“I don't think of Guillamón as a centre back. We have several possibilities in that position. He can give us that option, but until now he has participated as a midfielder.

Paulista

“I focus on coaching on a day-to-day basis The club are not going to get involved in that aspect at all, and I wouldn't understand it either, because I don't get involved in other types of club tasks. I don't look at his age, the games he plays or whether he renews or not, I only look at the immediate performance and from there, I try to be fair.

2030 World Cup

I would like the Nuevo Mestalla to be finished for it, as that would be a good sign. I wish a World Cup match could be played at the Nuevo Mestalla. We all have this hope that the stadium can be finished and this would give us another dimension.

Internationals

It is a reward for their hard work and effort. Getting to the national team and staying there is difficult. They have to enjoy the moment.