Baraja: “We wanted to win but the point has its value”

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja spoke to the media in a press conference following the match vs. Villarreal CF

The result

"This draw is not what we were looking for. Then, as the game went by, we worked well and we had our moments. The point has its value. Our job was to give it our all and give everything today against a great side, and I think that we have done it. The effort has been tremendous and we must congratulate the players for how they played, for the passion and heart they have put into the game today."

The showing by the team

"The difference that this game had was that Villarreal have a lot of quality. They touch push you back with possession. We couldn't lose shape. If we had played the game in a back-and-forth exchange, they have a lot of danger up front. In the first half It was more about control and then in the second half we tried to modify things to go forward. In the moment when we were better, they made it 0-1 and the team's response was magnificent in terms of their mentality. We used a high press and got the equaliser -and could have won. If you can't win, drawing is always positive."

Differences between playing at Mestalla and away from home

"It's important. We need to play with this energy and predisposition away from home as well. At home, on a psychological level we feel better and the fans have been amazing. 44,000 people came at 7:30pm, which was incredible. We need them and they kept us in the game. We have to bring this energy away from home as well. It's something we have pending."

The performance by young players

"They work well and they are prepared. They have that ambition. They are ready to be in the first team. Javi Guerra had a good game, with good work. Diego Lopez came on and gave us pace. Alberto Marí provided good pressure late on. It's good that they come in and that they have the confidence to be able to contribute as they did today. But today has nothing to do with tomorrow. This is the mentality that I convey to them."

A complete game

"For me today the team played a complete game. It was a very difficult game due to many things. Our defensive line performed at a high level, Giorgi was good, we had control in the centre, we had shots and speed on the wings. The team did many things well and that led to our equaliser. What concerns me is being able to repeat these performances. We have to continue in this way with our work and mentality. We have to persist and provide continuity. We had a good game."

Are you optimistic about the calendar?

"I think that if you watch the game and you're a Valencia CF fan, you're not going home today deflated. The team compete and want to win. Today we took a point and it gives us the chance to get closer to moving out of a dangerous situation. We have to keep working. As for what will happen in the future... what we will do is recover well. From there, we will compete and compete in every game. Right now we have one opponent, then another. We need to pick up points. We are talking about opponents the magnitude of Villarreal, who were fighting for a Champions League spot. You have to be optimistic and think that the team can do it."

What is lacking for Valencia CF to be in this situation"

"I can only tell you about today's game. Everybody will have their own analysis. Now I am focused on saving us from this situation, I want to get to Matchday 38 and for Valencia CF to be in the Primera Division. This is what motivates me the most. We want to repay the fans for what they give us. We have to be optimistic about the future and believe in the team."

Can being out of the relegation zone for 10 days change things?

"Mentally, yes. There are still games to play, but coming into it positively it is much easier. We wanted to win, it wasn't possible and we have to continue considering the point to be positive. We are continuously having experiences and the stronger you get mentally, the closer you are to accepting what happens and turning it around. The team showed it against Valladolid, also in Cádiz when we could have drawn. This gives me hope."

How far do the team have to go to survive?

"Honestly, I haven't stopped to think about it. We also depend on other teams' results. It's not something I value. I focus on the players not being obsessed with the result, but on what needs to be done to get the results. We have to focus on what is important. We want to rest well, recover well and work for next week."

Is the need to get wins added pressure?

"It is a situation that makes you think that the results and the points are more decisive. Now we have to think about today. Talk and doing calculations doesn't lead to anything. This is of no use to us. We have to carry things from home games into away games and we have to try to get points. In Vigo we have to do things well and if we manage to win we'll be closer to our goal."

Mixing youth and experience

"I try to get things right as much as possible and win games. I reduce it to that, to the simplest form. I reduce everything to that. We have to compete and have energy. The priority here is that Valencia CF, at the end of the season, are out of the relegation zone. This is not the time to look at ourselves individually, it is the time to think about the collective. There will be time to look at the situations."

The need to win leading to more attacking play

"Yes it does, but many times the idea is to try to do that. They moved the ball around well and pushed us back in the first path. At half-time we talked about the importance of having the ball, in order to improve. Without the ball it was hard for them. We came back out better, with speed, winning more duels inside with energy, and that kept us in the game. The response we had is positive. We have to consider the point to be valuable."

Is the point a good result ?

"No. I have always said that our objective was to win. The team were always in the game. When we were playing better, their goal came from a rebound. The player finished very well but it came from a save and he was clear to shoot. It became difficult and we were able to get back up. We looked for an equaliser and we could even have won. We had that clear chance for Diego. The team ended up in Villarreal's six-yard-box and this is very difficult to do. If you cannot win, then taking a point is ok."