Bordalás: “We have the desire to play well and beat Real Betis"

Coach José Bordalás spoke to the press ahead of Valencia CF’s game against Real Betis on Tuesday night.

Have seen the statement from Valencia CF supporting you. What do you think about it?

The club informed me through the press officer. I think it's great. It is not a show of support for the coach, but for Valencia CF. As you all know, we feel harmed, not by specific actions or specific decisions, but by a host of things that you already know about, and that I am not going to repeat now because we are focused on trying to finish the season in the best possible way. That is our intention.

The first important decision regards Hugo Duro. Would you pay the option to buy for Hugo Duro?

I have to talk to the club. If the club consider that they should consult me ​​on such an important decision, then I will give my opinion. I don't want to do it publicly before learning the opinion of Valencia CF.

Lato has been out of the squad for two games, despite the fact that you said that the players were fit. What is happening with him?

I said it because they were training almost normally, he has been injured a lot this season and has had very few training sessions. After a long-term injury we don't want him to have a relapse. There is a little bit of the season left and he has not been in the squad because we considered that he was below the level of his teammates in terms of fitness. I had to leave players out, just like for tomorrow's game. We have practically everyone available except Gayà, Guillamón and we'll see if perhaps Paulista too.

Why were Hugo Duro and Marcos André left out of the squad? You have talked about arrivals at Valencia CF’s level, but also about departures. Are you already clear about who should leave?

Hugo Duro had some discomfort in his hamstring and we decided not to risk it. Marcos André was a tactical decision. I've been talking to him and he knows why. As for what you say, it is an issue that we have to talk about, we have to sit down and talk it over. I will give my opinion of who I consider to be players who could come in, or the sporting management will present Valencia CF level players. Many think that the coach is very demanding, and I'm talking about players like Kily, Albelda, Pellegrino... No, I'm talking about players who help us make the leap up. I am not as demanding as they make me out to be. We have to meet, and after the season I know my current squad and I will give my opinion on who should continue.

Is Jesús Vázquez a Valencia CF-level player for next season?

Yes, I am very happy with him. Everything has a process. People already knew him here at Valencia CF and he has always been seen as having great potential. He has a great physique, he does things well and we have been working for months so that he reaches that level that he has and improves on it. He has to improve aspects at a defensive level, but personally I am very happy with him. He will be with us. I have no doubt about that.

Do you see much difference with the teams that are in the fight for Europe?

This is not the time to evaluate the other teams. We all know the squads and LaLiga after almost the entire season. We all know the needs involved. Not only have we found it hard to beat teams from the upper half of the table, but also Mallorca, Cádiz, Osasuna... To get points at Mestalla it was necessary to do things very well and it is a very clear gauge for me.

Do you think that Valencia CF level signings can be made without spending money?

We should put this subject to one side, because tomorrow we have a game and we haven't talked about Betis. We will have the appropriate meetings to improve the squad, within the possibilities that the club have. It has to be done as soon as possible, because other teams are being built. I am aware of clubs that have practically finalised their squads. I was talking to a sporting director who told me of his intention to sign four players to take his squad up a level. We are playing against Betis, who are fighting for the Champions League. We will try to finish as high as possible, finish with a good feeling and try to improve the deficit at Mestalla with tomorrow's game and that against Celta.

Do you see Yellu as being good enough to play next season?

He is very young. He is in the Juvenil team. He is a kid who surprised me on the first days that he trained with us. He has a great physique, maturity and attention. I think that with work and time he can become a good player, but we are not fortune tellers. This is a journey and it is very difficult. We cannot think of a player in the short term because everything requires a period of time. He has surprised me because he has maturity, he doesn't fold, he is strong and plays well. He has some important characteristics to be a footballer.

In the statement it is said that certain comments have hindered refereeing decisions. Do you think this is so?

We have all been able to verify it. I am not going to talk about specific actions because we have already commented on them, but we see actions in some games that have cost us red cards, and sometimes they are not even given as a yellow. Both the club and ourselves don't want them to give us anything, but we also don’t want them to take anything away from us.

Do you think you are going to get the club to change from now on? Would you be comfortable if the club continued to work the same way?

I tell you when the club transmit to me. I think I know what the team need, not because of my whims, but because of the demands of the competition. Valencia CF are a big club and it couldn't be any other way. We have to put together the best squad to have ambitious goals. We know that the club have to sell, and we know that any sale weakens the team. Not only do we have to compensate for those departures but also improve the squad. I trust that this will be so.

Beyond the prejudice in refereeing that the team receive, do you feel persecuted? Do you feel that you are an easy target?

If not an easy target, the wildcard. It's not just coaches, prior to the cup final, it's continuous. It's a wildcard that I give them: If things go well, great, and if they go badly, the reason was the way Valencia CF and their coach play. They don't dare to criticise Valencia CF, but they do their coach. The statement was mentioned to me with the intention of defending me personally, but the attacks are against Valencia CF. We all have to defend ourselves from any injustice. I don't feel persecuted, but I am the wildcard that they always use -and since there is no repercussion they continue to do so. I trust they will be punished. When there is a racist comment, it should not be allowed, but neither should insults.

People are excited about the possibility that Bryan Gil will continue, but he has disappeared from your lineups. Are you examining players for next year and you have excluded Bryan because it is difficult for him to continue?

At this point nobody needs to pass a test. I know all the players perfectly and I know what they can give us. Bryan's decision is purely tactical. Players go through better and worse spells. Marcos André knows that he has to take a step forward, the club made a very big commitment for him. I try to be as fair as possible but I am the one who knows the day-to-day life of the players.

Are you not ruling out Gabriel Paulista for tomorrow? How do you face a game against Betis now?

We have to be professionally motivated and think about our club and our fans. I remind the players that we have to finish in the best way possible. We owe it to the fans because their response has been outstanding. We have to finish in the best possible way.

Coincidentally, Betis were our opponents in the cup final. We had a great game in the final and only missed out on penalties. We are not anxious for revenge but want to have a good game and get the three points. We must have that motivation. Betis demand that of you and we trust the team. We are obliged to have a good game. Gabriel is going to undergo some tests.

Do you believe that Valencia CF have been singled out? There are three matchdays left, so don't you think that if the statement had been made before, it would have been possible to change that trend?

Possibly you are right. If it had been made before, perhaps we would not have been so hindered. But it was not done then, and it has been done now. It is never too late if the interests of Valencia CF are being defended. I say this because one already has experience and I have experienced many things. I have seen in games how the opposition were awarded two penalties against them and the president of that team went down the tunnel and got involved with the referee. I don't know if it's good or bad, but when injustices are committed, you're not going to turn the other cheek. You get tired of it, and when you want to be respected you have to respect others. Valencia CF deserve the utmost respect.

Diakhaby said in an interview in France that the time may have come to change teams. Is he going to leave?

I don’t know. I'm very happy with him. I think we've done an amazing job with Diakhaby. When I arrived they told me that he was a player to try to get out, because his level was not what was expected of him. I think we have contributed to his transformation. I have to congratulate him on how he has improved.

From those very serious errors that cost points, he has earned the chance to be a starter, and the attention he pays is what other teammates have to look at. He has improved tremendously. It's very important.

I am very happy with his performance. I personally do not look at any other possibility than him continuing, but these are decisions that are beyond me.

Do you think Valencia CF are not where you deserve to be because of refereeing?

We are where we should be. I don't complain or go crying about things. After losing I have never made excuses about the oppositions play, or other things that are not football. Valencia CF are where we should be. We have all made mistakes, me first of all.

Now we must learn and try not to repeat the mistakes. It is also true that the team have managed to excite the fans and, if we compare things to the previous two seasons, we have not been in decline.

This is not where Valencia CF should be seen, but we know what the current reality is. From there, we will grow. With mistakes and with success, I have given everything and I will do so until the last day in order to finish as high up the table as possible. I always want to win; when I don't win, I'm not happy and I coach to win. That is the mentality that we must have.

You have spoken of footballers who have been revalued. One is Mamardashvili. You said that you would understand sales that bring in a large fee. Are you worried about his departure?

He fills me with satisfaction. I don't usually brag. I have achieved, not only at Valencia CF, but also at previous teams, players who have been revalued. With Giorgi, I think he has revalued himself. At one point they asked me to move him down to play with the second team, but I opposed that because I saw potential there. With everyone's hard work we have managed to make him a player who has grown a lot. We don't know if there might be an offer for him, but he is a goalkeeper who is doing well. He has to improve aspects of his game, with his feet, and be a little calmer when making decisions, but he is helping us a lot and he is having very good games.

Haven’t the club told you anything about Hugo Duro continuing?

Not so far.