Gattuso: "We have to have a great game against an opponent with quality and with a great mentality"

Gennaro Gattuso gave a press conference on Friday to analyse the LaLiga match that Valencia CF will play against Villarreal CF at the Estadio de La Cerámica.

How are all the players for tomorrow's game against Villarreal CF?

They're all fine. We don't have any injuries, so they're all ready for tomorrow's game.

What opinion do you have of Quique Setién?

If I’m going to talk about Quique, I would have to spend 25 or 30 minutes here talking. When I saw his work at UD Las Palmas I liked how he played. It was a moment of transition for me; I was starting out as a coach, but wasn't sure whether to play from the back with possession of the ball. With my long-time assistant I went to Las Palmas with a camera to see how he coached his team.

He is a coach who has helped me a lot to change my mentality and I have a lot of respect for him. There are many things that he worked on in Las Palmas that we now work on during the week. In this sense, he has been a coach who has changed my way of thinking.

Do you expect reinforcements early in this winter transfer market or towards the end of the market?

I don't know if we are going to sign anybody. I said it when we made the toast with the press. I am very happy with my squad. If I have to sign for signing’s sake,  we will never sign anybody. We are working, we are looking at players. I have to look at which player could come here who can improve the team, but if it's just signing for signing’s sake, we won't sign anybody.

How is the situation with Jesús Vázquez? Does he have an agreement to go on loan to Getafe CF?

Jesus is a kid born in 2003, and in these four or five months he has not had many opportunities. I think the best thing is that he has continuity. He has a lot of quality, I know him very well, but he has Gayà ahead of him, who is playing at a very high level. Fortunately, the captain has not been injured. We are watching the situation, but he will be with us tomorrow, he will come with us to the game against Villarreal CF and then we will continue talking.

Do you like Bryan Gil as a possible signing in the winter transfer market?

In the summer we worked hard on bringing Bryan in. We waited and waited and waited, but Tottenham finally decided not to give him to us. I don’t think that Tottenham have changed their idea, and that is the reality. They don't want to give him up for six months.

Neither Jesús Vázquez nor Lato are playing, and the club must deal with both of their futures. How do you think this situation will be resolved?

I am aware of the club's proposal to Lato and if the player doesn’t like it, I accept that. I respect Toni like I do the rest of the players. I have to look at many things, like if he has a good head, if he trains well... When I talk to Toni or other players, I always do it face to face. I have no problem with Toni, he is training hard. He still has six months left on his contract. I know he's not happy, but my priority is to make him feel my trust in him. I can't say anything bad about Toni, he is a machine and he always trains to the fullest.

How do you approach the match against Villarreal CF?

It is a very difficult game. They are a team who play in an incredible way and they have many qualities. We have to be very alert. There will be a lot of people in the stadium. It's a derby, we want to return to Valencia with a positive result and we have to have a great game. We are playing against a team with quality and a great mentality.

What did you think of Pelé as a player? Who is the best player in history?

Yesterday I made a video about him. I am very close to his family, and we have lost a great football man. In one era we had great players: Pelé, Maradona, Messi, Cruyff, Cristiano, Ronaldinho... he has been a man who has changed the history of football. He was always exemplary. He has always been well spoken of. We will remember him for the rest of our lives.

Would you like Jesús Vázquez, if he goes out on loan, to leave more towards the end of the transfer window?

I don’t know. I don't know if he will leave, or when he will leave. Right now, my priority is the match, after that I will talk to Corona and Layhoon and we will see in which direction we are going to go.

Have you spoken to Jesús Vázquez about a possible departure?

I have spoken many times with him and I have told him what he has to improve because he has a lot of quality. I have told him that at this moment perhaps I have not helped him because he has had few opportunities, but I have told him that he has to keep working hard because he has speed and incredible fitness.

I have told him what I think in these four months. He is a homegrown player, who has to play, play and play because it is not easy to come on for fifteen minutes and improve. I have a good relationship with him and I think he can do a lot of good things at Valencia CF.

Can you tell us if Diakhaby or Lato are going to renew their contracts?

There are many things that are difficult to control. When the club propose a contract, we have many things that I cannot control because it isn’t my money. I have worked a lot and the club have also worked a lot to renew players. Things happen that we can't control and that are difficult, but we work until we can do no more on our part. Am I optimistic? I think we have to wait and see what happens.

What should the sporting objective of Valencia CF be?

Prepare things match by match. I would like to say that we have to get into Europe, but we have to prepare and show that on the pitch. That's where we'll see where we end the season. We have to show many things.

Are you worried about the situation on the left with Toni Lato and Jesús Vázquez?

You are asking me only about Toni Lato and Jesús Vázquez. We have a game tomorrow. I am not worried. I'm only worried about death, nothing else. You’re asking me the same question for twenty minutes.

What salary cap have you been told that Valencia CF can reach in the market?

We have a limit of 75 million for Financial Fair Play. That's why we're looking at a lot of players.

How is Gabriel Paulista?

He has to work, as he has been doing. When you don't play many minutes, things can happen. We have worked hard during the break. Our priority was hard work, not the results. I’m happy. Has he had problems? Not just Gabriel, the whole team. We have worked hard, with very high workloads.

How do you face the month of January with LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa matches?

We have to be prepared. The entire squad has to be ready.

The Valencia CF fans sold out the 800 away tickets for the match against Villarreal CF in a matter of hours. What do you think about this?

Voro told me yesterday. We have another responsibility. We have to respect this game, it's a derby. In recent years, Villarreal CF have won trophies, played in Champions League semifinals... You have to face the game with heart and a great mentality.

What do you want from 2023?

That the war in Ukraine ends, that people who do not have money and health get that... I am not going to pray to win a game, that is something that is worked on when you are on the pitch. I want everyone to be well and that we don't have a war. In terms of football, we have to earn it, that's my mentality.

Are you going to change your approach and rotate during this month of January, with so many games?

We have to see. We have many games and I’m sure we will not be able to play three games with the same team in one week.