Gattuso: "I'm convinced that the team will get out of this situation"

Valencia CF coach Gennaro Gattuso analysed a home defeat to FC Barcelona in his post-match press conference and believed that a draw would have been a fair result.

Xavi says that Valencia CF were more defensive than normal.

I saw a different match to him. I played the first 20 minutes with a line of five at the back, then with a line of three forwards who pressed. In the first 25 minutes we didn't press well, but I think we always played with pressure going forwards. We didn't go backwards. When we had the ball we always tried to play. My team was not only defensive. We played with many players out of position. I think Valencia CF played a good game.

Are you proud of the performance of your players? How are Cavani and Thierry doing?

Cavani has ankle discomfort. Thierry is very tired, but doesn't have an injury. We have to see what Cavani has. We have to say thank you to the fans for what I have been told is the best attendance for four years. I'm sorry, because if the game had ended 0-0 it would have been the correct result. For us it was very important, but we have to continue. My team are alive. We have to keep working and improving what we don't do well.

Xavi said that Barça were far superior. Do you think the same? Also, the fans are complaining about a controversial move involving Marcos Alonso.

I have a lot of respect for Xavi because I think he is a great coach, but I think we took risks several times. In the second half I don't remember any chances for FC Barcelona. I may have been watching another match. I think it was a normal game. If Xavi says that they were far superior, I accept it but I don't agree. Regarding the action involving Marcos Alonso, if the referee thought it wasn't a red card, he is correct.

Does it hurt to lose like this?

It hurts me because it didn't change anything for us, but it was an adrenaline rush for our mentality. Not losing would have been good for the team. After how we played the game, with many absences, a point would have been good for the atmosphere in the dressing room.

Is the trend of results worrying?

I think our current league position is not real. Due to the quality of our play and our mentality, I think we have to continue. We have only one path, which is to work hard. You come here with 46,000 people supporting you and a very long history for the club, and not winning makes the responsibility greater. We have to work and be calm. I can only say this to my team.

Do you also need an adrenaline rush?

I'm not sad. I don't like to lose. I only have one face and I don't lie. It's normal to be proud of the team for the game they played, but it's not a problem with today, it's how we played in previous games. If the team didn't have quality, they couldn't do what they did today. This is a team that give everything, that have to improve many things, but that are alive. We are not winning, but we have to continue. If we keep going in this direction we can do very good things.

Does Marcos André deserve criticism today for the handball in the disallowed goal?

I don't get angry when a player makes mistakes. I like that the players do everything to the fullest. I've looked at it and I think he was impeded when ran into space, but the referee saw it differently.

What importance do you give now to the two remaining games before the World Cup?

It worries me because we have played against two teams that have a lot of quality. We drew against Elche and we lost against Mallorca. I think we have to recover players who are not one hundred percent. We probably won't have Ilaix or Diakha, but we're going to prepare for the next two games and we're going to work during the World Cup. I think the problem will come after the World Cup because it is not normal to play the World Cup in the middle of the season. Many coaches may have problems.

What do you mean when you say that you have to convince the dressing room that playing for the club carries heavy responsibility?

Here we talked about Europe. When I said about getting 40 points, you thought I was crazy. This is a club where there is pressure. And when you have pressure you have to win games, but in LaLiga it's not easy to win games. The club have never told me that I have to get into Europe. They told me about a style. When a team play poorly, they play poorly, but I think the team have a style. It's true that we played the last 30 minutes in a horrible way. We have to continue and work hard, because it is difficult to win.

Do you stand by your aim of reaching 40 points?

After 40 points everything is easier. There is less pressure. With 40 points you play differently.

Is football being unfair to Valencia CF?

That's football. Especially when you play against a team with quality. They have quality players like Lewandowski. We have to continue because I am convinced that the team will get out of this situation.