Enzo Barrenechea, called up by Argentina National Team
Valencia CF player called up to play the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.
How are Wass, Hélder Costa and Manu Vallejo doing after testing positive for COVID-19?
All three are doing pretty good. There were doubts about the test, but tomorrow they will have completed the necessary days of confinement and tomorrow we will know if they are available for the match.
How is Gabriel Paulista?
He's fine. I was able to talk to him for a few minutes. He feels good and we trust that he can be part of the group and forget about everything, because he has had a bad time.
What has changed for you to not want to participate in the winter transfer market and say that you limit yourself to coaching?
If you allow me, today we are going to talk about the game. It is an important week. I prefer not to talk about the matter of transfers, as that diverts our attention from the match against Sevilla. We are at a very important point in the season. I ask you for this, please, because we have to be focused.
Do you have any news about the meeting with Peter Lim?
I prefer not to talk about these issues.
Sevilla have a competitive XI, despite absences. How do you rate them?
I don't know how many players they have out. We'll see tomorrow when they announce the squad. Sevilla FC have a great squad, with two high-level players per position. They are very difficult opponents; they are second in the table, they are fighting for the Champions League and also for the title. It is a tremendously interesting and tough game. We are focused on having a good game tomorrow. We are playing at home and we want to find our home form again.
How is Carlos Soler? Could he feature tomorrow?
He feels good. He did part of the training session with the group. I think he is fine. We will decide tomorrow based on how he is doing, but we are not going to take too much of a risk either, because we cannot afford risks. He is an important player.
Will it be similar to the match at the Pizjuán?
Let's hope it doesn't look like that. We had a bad result, losing in a convincing way in a very short period. It was not a good game on our part. We look forward to another script and another match. We're not thinking about the first game, but rather about being at our best tomorrow.
Have you considered repeating the formation you used against Atlético Baleares tomorrow?
It's a possibility. We use it in the Copa and I am satisfied. It also depends on the opposition. Sevilla make very good changes of orientation, don’t concede and play differently, with one striker and two midfielders. It's a possibility.
Is Mosquera an option for the starting XI, after his good debut in the Copa del Rey?
He is training with us. He did really well in the last game and it's a real possibility that he will start, if we play with three centre-backs.
There has been a change of stance from you. You didn't want to analyse the game, now you don't want analyse the transfer market. People say that you are angry, that you feel cheated.
I'm good. Do I look angry? I am happy. I am coaching Valencia CF and I am happy. I'm not going to talk about that topic. There is no reason to, because tomorrow we have a very important game. I understand that you have to ask these kinds of questions, but a few days ago we talked about it and we can't constantly talk about the same thing. Now we are up against tough opponents and we can't divert attention to aspects that are still important, but that we have to put aside because tomorrow we have a really important game.
This week you have very important games. Could any player push to be available this week?
We'll see. If there is no risk, it is clear that we would make that decision. There are players who feel good, some due to injury and others due to COVID, and they are training well. Tomorrow we will know if they are fit for 90 minutes or for less. Tomorrow we will have the last session and we will decide if they are ready for the match.
Does Mosquera have the authority that some players in the squad lack?
He is very young, I looked at him at the start of the season, but he has been sidelined with an injury for a long time. He possibly would have played much sooner if it hadn't been for the injury. He has to improve and learn. The good thing is that, in my first talk with him, he was very attentive. He is a sponge. He has played at his age because he has been very attentive to everything that the coaches have taught him since he arrived at Valencia CF. I am sure he has a great future.
Do you think that now an idea emanates from the club that if Bordalás does not say yes to a signing, they will not bring the player in?
I am not going to answer that, because of what I have said to your colleagues. It would be disrespectful to your colleagues who asked me before. Tomorrow's game is very important; we have a great team in front of us and we're not going to get sidetracked. Right now, I have all five senses focused on tomorrow's game. Sevilla are a very strong team. We come into this match off two consecutive defeats. We need to be united and get a victory tomorrow.
Wass is available again. Do you trust that this will continue until the end of the season, or do you expect that the same will happen as did with Kondogbia?
He is a Valencia CF player and I am not thinking of any other possibility. He has trained with his teammates who have had COVID. He had a little worse of a time, but he is with his teammate.
What did you think of what happened in the Seville derby?
I have only followed it a little. I saw the game and what happened. We are against throwing objects. It was an ugly image that tarnishes the great league we have. That has to be rooted out. There have been opinions of all kinds, which I will not go into. We saw it from afar and I don't think it will affect Sevilla FC, because they are a great team and a great club, and they are focused on tomorrow's game.
Do you think that if Atletico Madrid increase their offer, Valencia CF will sell Wass?
I don't think about it. I'm thinking about tomorrow's game and I don't allow myself to think about anything else. I am the captain of the ship and I cannot afford to have attention diverted. We need to use all five senses to try to get a good result against Sevilla FC.
Do you think it is necessary to make an improvement in the medical system?
I can't answer you. Right now, Gabriel Paulista is feeling well and is in good spirits. I have seen optimism in his face, and confidence about being back as soon as possible. Let's trust that this is the case, because he is a very important player that the team have missed.
Is not being able to ask about transfers something for today?
You can stay calm. This week is unusual because we have 3 games in 6 days that are very important. You can ask me soon about whatever you want. I have always been open to answering any questions.
Correia has already had COVID. You said he was available but he hasn't played in the last few games. Is he ok?
He has no problems. He is training normally and tomorrow we will have him available.
What have you transmitted to the players for tomorrow's game and the changes that need to be made?
The game against Atletico Baleares was one that we approached with the utmost interest, with difficulties in terms of players available. It was a cup match and the objective was to go through -which we did. We have had little time to prepare for the match against Sevilla FC. There is no other option, because LaLiga does not stop. We have to get results to be calm and we will see where we have to go. When the second half of the season starts, all the teams are fighting for something important. There are those who fight for the title, for the Champions League, for Europe, those who are mid-table and want to join the fight for Europe, and those at the bottom will also be tough opponents. It's going to be hectic and we can't relax one bit. We are focused on tomorrow's game.
When you lost to Real Madrid earlier this season, unfavourable results followed. Do you fear that this could be repeated after the loss at the Bernabéu?
I am not thinking beyond tomorrow's match. I can tell you about the calendar we have. We have Sevilla, Atletico, Real Sociedad, Barça… We can't look any further. We can think that it is a tough calendar, but this is football. We are focused on tomorrow's game, but we want to show that we are a team that compete well with the support of our fans. We want to get a good result tomorrow and we aren’t thinking about anything else.
What are the aspects to improve in defence?
At the beginning of the season we conceded few goals, but we have been fragile lately and it is an aspect to improve. We have to think about the present and the game against Sevilla. I am convinced that the team have taken note of the aspects to improve. From now on we will see, but we are very confident of getting a good result.
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