Bordalás: "My takeaway is the attitude of the team, their effort was very good"

José Bordalás spoke to the press following the draw vs. Sevilla FC at Mestalla (1-1).

What were you looking for with the initial setup? Why did the system change?

We repeated the plan that we used in the Copa del Rey. We had been working on it for a few weeks. The feeling about it was good and the team did not suffer in defence, and we considered that it gave us balance. We believed that it could work against Sevilla. We had the misfortune of conceding the first goal, and then we moved Diakhaby forward to make it a 4-4-2 and the team went on to equalise. In the second half we kept the plan going. I brought in Lato on the wing for Mosquera and played with two central defenders. The team were good. My takeaway is the attitude of the team. They competed against great opponents who are fighting for the title.

What is Cillessen’s injury? Has Jaume overtaken Mamardashvili?

He had a problem and felt stiff. We decided that it should be Jaume who came on, because he played on Sunday and we considered that he was in a more competitive dynamic. But it is not the case that he has overtaken Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is working well.

The Sevilla coach said that his team deserved to win. Do you agree?

No. That is his opinion. I think everyone sees games in a different way. I am proud of the work by the team. We wanted the victory but it wasn’t to be. If we had been successful with our chances, we could have won, as we had plenty. We failed to find the mid-range shots, because they have a good goalkeeper who had a few doubts -or so it seemed to us. On a good move by Yunus, his final pass to Guedes was not good. It was a difficult game, but I'll take away the work done by the players. Their effort was very good. I'm not happy with the result, as we would have liked to have given the fans a victory, but the team worked well and we'll take that away.

What are the team lacking in order to win against opponents like this?

Against Real Sociedad we were very good. They had conceded few goals. Against Atletico Madrid we conceded goals easily. Today we made a mistake at the start, and they made chances very easily. The bad luck was that Diakhaby scored an own goal. It is difficult to come back against a team like Sevilla FC. We equalised and hoped to win. It wasn’t to be, and now we're thinking about the game against Atletico Madrid.

Those around Maxi Gómez have said he is annoyed at being left out of the squad for being one kilo overweight. Is that the reason?

Internal issues will never be made public. I have been told that this news has come out and it is not like that at all. He may be upset about not being called up, but I decide as coach and I know the reasons why he hasn't been called up. They are tactical decisions only.

You have said that weight is important for players, right?

There are things that I do not want to make public. These are the coach's decisions. The issue of weight is important, like many other issues. I do not know why this news has come out or who has leaked it. I imagine that they did so with the aim of damaging the team. It is a subject that we only know about internally. I will not reveal the reasons. They were talking about a kilogram. That is the margin that the players have to work with? They would be left out for being a kilo overweight? The news is fake.

Have you heard anything about Mingueza in the last few hours?

I have not heard anything. I have been told that his name has appeared in the press, but we have not talked about that player.

Marcos André is still not a starter. What is missing from him?

In Mallorca he had back problems. He endured the match as best he could, because he is very honest. The effort he put in was great and we decided not to start him. He is working well and I have told him this. He has potential and is growing. He will be an important player.

After seeing the eleven that drew today, is this a game that shows that signings are needed?

I am not going to repeat what I have said in many press conferences. I will not repeat the needs that we have. We know them. As a coach, I have to try to field the most committed team. Today the team put in a great effort. I think the team gave everything and the result wasn't what we wanted, but we were playing against a great team like Sevilla FC.

Do you think that Mosquera could be used more frequently as a starter?

I see him as a kid with great potential, personality and maturity. He showed it on Sunday and also today. People may think that Sevilla aren’t the best opposition to debut against in LaLiga, and he only had problems on a couple of occasions, which is normal against a player like Rafa Mir. I think he delivered remarkably. We subbed him off, but little by little he can be an important player for Valencia CF -without rushing him. He is 17 years old and sometimes we want a young player to perform at an elite level as soon as possible, when everything requires time.