Gattuso: “I have to find the solution and put the team in a better situation”

Valencia CF coach Gennaro Gattuso spoke after the LaLiga Matchday 16 loss to Cádiz CF in a post-match press conference.

An opening message

A fan lost their life before the game. I am so sorry. I send my condolences to their family. We also lost Gianluca Vialli, a great man and a great footballer. Rest In Peace.

How do you assess the defeat and the team’s form?

We were very bad today mentally, physically and tactically. The first half was horrible. The main person responsible for that is me. I told the team this in the dressing room. I have to reflect on what is missing. I don't want to look at long faces. We only have one path to follow: To keep going. My coaching staff and I have to understand what is missing. I didn't like anything about the game. The responsibility lies with the coach. I have to keep going and understand what we are missing.

There were whistles and white handkerchiefs at Mestalla after the game. What does this tell you?

I'm sorry. I think we deserved the handkerchief waving. When you play an important game like today and you don't have a style of play or scoring chances, you deserve that. We pressed in the second half, but without quality, without mentality, without a style of creating play. The responsibility for this is on me. When you look at the way the team played today, it's normal for the fans to be unhappy and make their feelings known.

Are you worried that your idea of ​​a playing style will lose confidence among your players?

Yes. We have to understand what is happening. Today, and against Villarreal CF in the final minutes, they played with their style. Today is the second time. It happened at Vallecas and it happened today. The importance of today's game was well known. But when the players came onto the pitch, a Cádiz CF player ran with the ball for 40 metres for the goal. It is a problem in terms of mentality and desire, and we must think about which direction to go in.

Do you know what problem Valencia CF have to change, apart from asking for transfers?

It's very easy to come here and talk about transfers, but I have to show my face. I'm not angry or nervous. We talked a lot in the dressing room and on the field, I knew it would be a difficult game in the defensive phase and I think we prepared well. When there are no good results it's normal, but I'm not nervous because the team don’t win. I can't be smiling. I'm worried and that’s the truth.

What directions are there to go in?

I have to think about how to solve the difficulties we are facing when we play LaLiga games. When you play a game like today, and you see many players who seem to have no strength or mentality, it's normal to think about how to solve the problem and put the players in the right position. It is what we have to work on.

The Cádiz coach said that they had prepared the game well. Do you get the feeling that opposing teams know Valencia CF very well?

It can happen. The Cádiz CF forward, with 2-3 of us around him, always had the chance to receive the ball. We are failing in this. Cádiz looked for the second ball, either from the goalkeeper or the central defender. We didn’t do anything, qualitatively. The whole team lacked movement, without a breakout run. It was very easy to defend us today and the team could have played for 3 hours and not scored a goal.

Are you worried about the team defensively?

I think it's not just a problem with the defensive line, but with the whole team. When I talk about the second ball, we are also talking about midfielders and the whole team. We are lacking in aggressiveness. The first goal was incredible, as there was a run for 50 metres with the ball. It's not just Ilaix's fault, it's the whole team's fault. Guillamón also provides support there. It's a problem for the whole team.

What did you think about the refereeing?

In the first half, there were two minutes of injury time. It is normal for the team to get angry. But we have to get angry at how we played. We didn’t lose because of the referee.

Although there is no concern, the team may end up closer to relegation than Europe. Would you say that this is the team's worst period in LaLiga?

I don't know, but I think we have lost a lot. At this moment our responsibility weighs heavily, but I have a duty and confidence that I have to put the team in the best situation.

You said about the experience of Cádiz. Are you missing that on your team?

It is difficult to go face-to-face with the referee. It’s not easy. It is very easy to talk about experience, but we have to change when we go into duels, when we go man-to-man, when we press. We have to improve all that. Hunger, I think, is what we are lacking. It is my responsibility, and I have to be convincing to coach in this situation.