Gattuso: “I am delighted with the Valencia CF fans and this season they must be our strength”

Valencia CF coach Gennaro Gattuso, gave a press conference prior to the LaLiga Matchday 1 game against Girona FC.

I would like to know your opinion about the sanction against Gayà.

I am going to speak in Italian because I have to speak correctly. We are talking about someone who for me is a spectacular guy. I've been working with him for a month and he's an international player because of how he plays the role of captain. When he plays he is incredibly polite. I have been a captain. When I played and talked after games I was much worse than him; he is very respectful. That is why this four-game ban surprises me so much, as well as the fact that the decision has come so late. You know him as a player, but as a man and as a person he is incredible, that's why I don't understand this suspension. During the week I have a lot of difficulty: When I coach the team I have to be the referee and it is not easy. It is a very difficult job for me as well. Many players get angry with me because they think that an incident was a foul or not a foul. I think that a referee's job is not easy, I trust in their good intentions and I think that we have to help them, talk less, and accept everything that happens on the pitch, although it is not easy, especially for me; in the game I have that fire inside, but we have to help the referees.

Will Nico be able to start in the match against Girona FC?

He is training with us, he has been included in the squad we will see tomorrow. He trained yesterday, today too and tomorrow he will come along to prepare for the match.

What are Valencia CF missing in this transfer market? So you still think you don't need to sign a defender?

Talking about names is not the right thing to do today. We have a very difficult game against a team who are going to change between three or four formations, so we have to talk about the game. We, the club too, know that we have to complete the squad, but we already talked about that on Monday. Now the right thing to do is talk about the match.

What will happen with Maxi Gomez? Could he play against Girona FC?

I always like to have players at 100% on both a physical and mental level. I think he isn't ready yet because he hasn't trained with us in the last two weeks, and neither has Marcos André. Tomorrow we will see if he's okay. Today he still had a bit of discomfort, tomorrow we will talk to the doctor and see if he can get a few minutes. I am a coach, and he is working well, training normally. When a player is not physically fit, mentally he is not strong because he is thinking about the discomfort he has. He is a Valencia CF player at the moment, so we are obliged to make him perform at his best and work at 100%.

Do you see Hugo Guillamón as centre-back or in midfield?

Hugo is more than likely to play as a pivot. Nico too, although he can play as a midfielder, as a no.8. Hugo, for me, is a pivot.

What did you say to Nico to make him choose Valencia CF and rule out other offers?

He has many qualities. He is a young player, but he has a lot of quality. He has to work hard, he is playing for a big club with great history. Quality alone is not enough, he has to provide quality and desire. I told him that, and he is very happy.

What is Valencia CF's objective this season?

The goal for us is for the team to have a defined style and a defined mentality, and we have to see game-by-game. We are not talking about Europe or a specific position in the table. The objective is this: To have a defined mentality and style.

You had the Trofeo Naranja and yesterday more than 8,000 people watched training. How do you rate the dedication of the fans and what does it mean for the team?

I am delighted with the fans. Not only because of yesterday or the match against Atalanta BC, but also because of the days when we trained in very hot weather and there were so many people watching the session. This season they must be our strength. When I played I looked at the fans when I came onto the pitch, as for me to see so many people was like a shot of energy; it was exceptional, I think it is also like that for the team. We have a way to reinforce all this, playing good games and respecting what wearing the shirt means. 

By the way, there are no questions about Girona FC. Everyone thinks we're playing against a Second Division team. No. It's a very difficult match. LaLiga is going to be a difficult league and Girona FC is a very difficult game that we have to prepare well. Everyone thinks it's going to be easy, and it's going to be hard. They are a team who change their way of playing a lot in a short time. We have to understand their movements well, and I think that will be the key.

Are you worried about the heat that there could be tomorrow, because of how it might affect the team?

What changes for us? Nothing. We have been working in very hot, high temperatures for a month... I don't know what the temperature is in Girona right now, but for us it is not a problem, as we are used to it because we have worked in these temperatures for a long time.

What will Valencia CF's formation be this season?

I don't like 4-4-2. I don't like to play with two lines of four. Our formation today is 4-3-3, although in the future we may play 4-2-3-1. Little changes. I like playing with a pivot when we have the ball and when we don't. It's good for shaping up and looking for passes in the lines.