Baraja: “We must be a team in every sense, both on and off the ball"

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja spoke to the media in a press conference before his side’s trip to the Camp Nou, where they play FC Barcelona in Sunday’s 4:15pm CET kickoff.

Players out injured

"Everything is coming along. The squad list will be revealed tomorrow. We are trying to make people who are coming off injuries available as soon as possible. We have important players out for for this game, but it is the same as in other games and the team have been able to deal with it. The team had a good response the other day against Real Sociedad."

Reuniting with Xavi

"I hope it is positive. It's always good to meet former colleagues again. I hope that the match is like those that have we both had as players, and that we give our best."

FC Barcelona's defensive strength

"You can't argue with the season that they are having. They are the LaLiga leaders, they concede few goals and they are a committed team who are organised defensively. They have virtues that everyone has seen. I focus on my own team. We have the ambition ad desire to compete well.

I hope we perform at a good level and understand what we have to do to be competitive. You have to do it collectively, as we saw against Real Sociedad. We must be a team in every sense, both on and off the ball. This is what really concerns me. It's a game against FC Barcelona, they're a magnificent team and they are playing at home, but we're going to try to do things right."

Victory against Real Sociedad

"When you get a victory and have a good feeling, it causes the team to grow in confidence. It's not about looking for excuses when you're in a negative or fearful mindset. You change that mentality for a powerful one, and that's what I want to convey to the team."

Changing mentality

There are many keys. Obviously there is hard work behind the change in mentality to compete in every circumstance. It's a day-to-day job, generating competitiveness in training, routines, and the feeling that you can learn something every day before the game. I try to inspire them to improve. I always have to feel that my team are prepared to grow and improve. I have the feeling that we are going to be able to have a good game tomorrow in Barcelona."

The possible formation

"We have worked on different situations that may arise during the game. We have to have the initiative in our decision-making. We are going to approach the game the way that we think we can do it and then we will see the circumstances that can make the game change. We want to maintain the way that we played the other day, whoever plays from the start. There are times when those who don't start give us what the team need. We have to ensure that Valencia CF are the same in the first minute as in the 91st."

Hugo Guillamón

"We are always giving feedback to all the players. The more they know what we are going to do in each game, the better. We want them to quickly understand what we want as a team. With Hugo we must ensure that he has that consistency and concentration. He is capable of doing it because he is very intelligent. We work with him just like we do with everyone."

Travelling to the Camp Nou

"We are going to look for the kind of game that interests us. We know how good Barça are at the Camp Nou. We have to play in a way that is in our favour."

The importance of a possible win

"Really, the value is the same: Three important points to improve our position in the table. Tomorrow against Barça there are three points at stake, but it is beautiful and special to go to those big stadiums. It is an opportunity to add points and continue improving."

His wins as a player at the Camp Nou

"Anyone who has had positive experiences has that help when preparing to make things better. I was lucky enough to win at the Camp Nou as a player and I know that this only happens when you compete as a team, do things well, make them uncomfortable and finish chances well."

The 'Baraja style'

"I don't believe that time establishes the style of a coach. The most important thing for me is to go into any game with the feeling that the team have the ability to win and compete against anyone. What we have to do is get points to improve in the standings and tomorrow we have a chance to do that."

Growing as a team

"There are two things that we realised the other day that are very important. To achieve victory, our fans were very important. The other day, it would have been much more difficult to win if we hadn't had Mestalla behind us pushing us on. When you manage to win, the team grow in confidence and mentality. Whereas before you used to complain about things or look for excuses, you change your mentality to a powerful one that helps you work during the week."

Players out for FC Barcelona

"We have our own players out and we will try to make the most of situations that we have. We have great opponents in front of us, but we have to focus on doing our best, on our team and on our game. We go there with the ambition to compete".