Gattuso: “The support of the fans is very important for us and tomorrow it is fundamental that they give us the strength to have a great game”

Gennaro Gattuso spoke to the media in a press conference before Valencia CF’s game against Real Betis, which takes place on Thursday night which is Matchday 14 of LaLiga.

How are Cavani and the rest of the injured players doing?

Cavani has an ankle problem and hasn't trained for the last few days. He will not be available for the game. Gabriel Paulista has been training. We won't have Diakhaby or Moriba.

How can you hurt Betis?

We’re playing against a team that have a lot of experience. I think they are the oldest team in LaLiga. They won’t have two important players because of the red cards against Sevilla. They are a brave team who do things very well. We have to have a quality game with a great mentality. It is not an easy game.

What is the assessment of the season so far?

In terms of our play, good. If we are going to look at what we are lacking, then we are missing 4-5 points. At this moment, if I had 21 points I could not say anything bad. We have made mistakes in games like those against Elche and Mallorca. The verdict is good. We have to do things better. We have seen that what we are doing can’t be enough. We have to have continuity.

Do you prepare better by treating the game as a final or not giving it so much importance?

50-50. At this time, it feels that we are not winning, it feels that it is important to win a game, but I can’t speak with great enthusiasm all day.

Do you consider it to be the most important game of the season? Are you worried about having lost strength at Mestalla?

I think every game is important. After this match, the next one will be played on December 31st. If we get a victory it will be very important for our heads when we start training again. It is an important game -but they all are. There are three points at stake, as usual. The importance is that afterwards we have 5-6 weeks in which to work, and you work better if you win. We started very well at Mestalla, then we lost against Atlético and the team didn't deserve that. I think the problems started against Elche and Mallorca. The support of the fans is very important for us and tomorrow it is fundamental that they give us the strength to have a great game.

Do you know when you will travel to Singapore?

I'm going to Singapore on Friday.

Did Corona say that Valencia CF would not make moves in the transfer market?

You would have to ask Corona that.

Do you think there are missing pieces in the squad?

I am talking about the players who I coach now. Later, when the game is over, we will talk with the club, with Corona, if we have a chance. I speak and they listen, then they speak to me and I listen. Right now, I am very happy with my players, with everything they are doing, how they train and their will every day.

After the game against Mallorca you said that the problem of the last 30 minutes was killing you. In the last two games the circumstances have been different. Is that problem now solved?

Tomorrow is fundamental. In the last two games, against Real Sociedad we played for a long time against ten men, but tomorrow it is essential to follow the same path and mentality. If you don't play for all 95 minutes against Betis, it is hard to win.

What mark do you give yourself as a coach for these first months at the club?

It’s hard to answer this question because I don't know. When I came here I knew that I had a very, very difficult job, that I had to change a style of play. I think the team are playing well, they have a mentality and a style. I definitely think that the table is not correct, because if we are going to assess how the team have played I think that we deserve 20-21 points. I would like you to speak about this, because I don’t like to give myself a mark.

Is Cavani’s involvement in the World Cup in danger?

I don’t know. I have spoken with the medical staff and he had an injection today, and also last Saturday. I don’t know. It is an assessment that the national team have to make, but when speaking with our medical staff it is not something that we have not discussed. We haven't discussed whether he might miss the World Cup. In these 5-6 days he has done everything to be available, but his ankle hurts. He has a great will and great professionalism, but he has hardly been able to train.

After traveling to Singapore, you said that you were not going to make signings in January. Now you have said that there may be reinforcements. Would you like there to be signings?

I don’t want to talk about this. I think Corona has to be the one to speak. On Friday I will go to Singapore and I have to talk to all the members of the club. I’m going to listen. I'm going to listen to the majority shareholder. Later, when I come back, we can talk about this.

Would you take a draw against Betis?

I won’t settle for anything. I want to play the game. They are a great team with highly experienced players who have played many big games. I won’t settle for anything. I hope the team play with personality, with enthusiasm and a great mentality.

Have you watched the Copa del Rey final from last season to analyse Betis?

Yes, I have looked at it. I think Valencia CF were very brave in the second half. When it’s a final, the difference is always made by motivation, head and heart. I really liked the match. I really liked the second half.

What is your opinion of the World Cup being played in Qatar?

I don't want to talk about the World Cup. Whoever decided to play the World Cup in Qatar has decided it, and that's it. Two weeks ago, I stated that I think the problems are going to start after the World Cup, because it's an abnormal situation. I am not going to assess whether it is better to play a World Cup in Qatar or not. FIFA are the ones who decided and I have to respect that.

Can you tell us about the preseason you will have during the break? Is it your decision to stay in Valencia?

We will play five friendly games. There is a game against Nottingham Forest at Mestalla. Then we play the rest at Campo 5, the training pitch where the women's team and VCF Mestalla play. If the whole world comes here -many Italian, Belgian and German teams come here- why do we have to go abroad? I think it's best to stay here.

Are you worried about Cavani's ankle going forward?

From what we have spoken about with the medical staff, it is normal that the last MRI was done a week ago and his ankle is better than when he came here. He made a strange movement and it is hurting him, but he's better than when we signed him. He likes to work and he is working hard. When you don't have him, it’s a blow, but I'm not negative. I hope he has a great World Cup, has continuity and that his ankle doesn't bother him.

Does Lato have a chance of playing as a winger?

We will look. Today we tried out many things and tomorrow we will see who plays from the start. Tomorrow we have another training session. We are going to work on set pieces and tomorrow I will decide who starts.