Gattuso: "We have to play with great motivation and intensity for 90-95 minutes"

Gennaro Gattuso held a press conference ahead of Friday's game against Cádiz CF, in which Valencia CF will try to take three important points in LaLiga before playing in the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia.

 

What can you say about the opposition?
A difficult game awaits us. We are playing against a team that defend very well, and when they get the ball back they have 4-5 players upfield, they cross very well and it's going to be difficult. We know this. Today we have prepared the game, and we have to play with great motivation, with quality and with intensity. If we don't play like this for 90-95 minutes it will be very difficult for us.

You said that the priority was to sign a pivot. Do you expect one to arrive soon?
The club know what we have to do. I don't have time to always be thinking or talking about the same things. I have to focus my energies on preparing matches. The club know what we have to do, I don't want to waste 2% of my energy always talking about the same thing. All the energy I have, I need to put into my team, in preparing for games and putting the best eleven players on the pitch.

How are Foulquier and Thierry doing?
Foulquier and Thierry are fine. They trained with the team today and yesterday. We have a problem for Almeida, who has a fever, but he doesn't have any injury. I think that tomorrow he could be available along with the rest of the squad. He has not trained with his teammates today.

How important is the game for not drifting away from the top positions in the table?
I think we don't have to look at the table. We have to respect the game. It's a big game, we're playing a team that have won only twice in LaLiga this season and we need to be complete, with a great mentality, and not be looking at the table. We have to prepare for the game well. It's at home, in front of our fans, who are going to help us. We have to think about the importance of the match.

Gabriel Paulista said that he respected your decision but did not accept the role of substitute. Is it something that makes you uncomfortable as he is a captain, or do you not care?
He respects me and I respect him. He has to train hard. I am the coach and I have to make decisions. I always have to look to pick the best team. Football changes from one moment to the next and you have to work hard, as he has been doing. Then I have to decide if he plays or not. That goes for all the players; it goes for Christian Rivero, who might be angry about not playing. I like it when a player doesn't play and gets angry. I like that reaction.

When we asked you about the future of Jesús Vázquez, you said that Layhoon had told you that he would stay. Have they agreed with you? Would you have preferred him to leave on loan? You also said that you were convinced that Lato might not be happy with his contract renewal proposal...

I did not say that I was convinced that Lato did not want to be here. I said that I think Toni is going to end the season here because he has never told me that he wants to go and play for another team. I think that he will continue, that he will finish the season with us playing with great professionalism, just like how he trains. I am very calm, he is a very professional person. I said that he is sure to not be happy with the proposal that the club made to him. What can I do? I am not his agent, nor the owner of the club. I tell the club what I think, but I have to respect the club's decisions. It's not my money. This is not going to change my consideration of what I think. Jesus is not a problem. When we train, Lato doesn't work in José Gayà's position; he plays in midfield or as a striker. Many times when he comes on he plays as a midfielder... When I say that he has to play more minutes it is because he is a kid born in 2003 and we have our captain, Gayà, who has a lot of experience. I think the best thing is that, if Jesus has the chance, he plays 10 or 15 games. I am happy that he is here, he has many qualities and he has to continue working because many things can happen later. He has to be prepared.

Are you afraid about tomorrow's game?
I am afraid for my team. I want us to improve our play and our continuity. It scares me that sometimes when we control games we concede and we lose. We have to improve our mentality in this sense, and not be afraid of failing.

Justin Kluivert is the winger who has produced the most goals and assists for you. What do you think about him?
I think he's doing well. I think he can do things better because he has a lot of quality. When does he score more: When he starts or when he comes off the bench? He puts you in difficulty in the last few minutes. He is a player who can play from the start, but sometimes I think about those last minutes in which, with his speed and punch, he can put the opposition in trouble.

If André Almeida doesn't make it for the game, would Lato be a possibility in midfield?
We'll see. We are going to wait on André Almeida.

Next week the team play against Real Madrid. Are you thinking about the Supercopa when looking at this match?

No. We haven't worked on the Real Madrid game yet, we're thinking about Cádiz CF. We have time to prepare for that game afterwards.

Are you aware of any progress in the renewal of Diakhaby?
No, the situation is the same as the other week. I can't waste time talking about things I've been talking about for a long time. It takes a lot of energy from me, and I don't want to lose that because then my team will lack it.

Which player best fits the profile of pivot?
Andre Almeida.

Do you plan to give a chance to a VCF Academy player in that position?
You are all unbelievable: You talk about getting into Europe, then you talk about the fact that we have to include a player from the youth team or from VCF Mestalla. The priority is what I have said: If Guillamón is injured, the player who will play as a pivot is Almeida, not Ilaix Moriba or Yunus Musah. For me, he can play there. The club knows that we have to do things, and look at a pivot because Nico has got injured. Javier Guerra? He is a good player and he has grown a lot, but at this moment you have to look at something different so as not to give him too much pressure. It can be a very big step up.

Have you spoken to Christian and advised him to go and play for another team?
When I came here, I knew his position. I knew that we had other goalkeepers. I have spoken with him and I have told him what I think. If he gets angry or is not happy about not playing, it's normal, but he has to respect our decisions. I think the progress he is making with Ochotorena and Perrone is important. He is not playing, but he is growing. When a player wants to talk to me, the door is always open, I will respect them and I will always tell them the truth. If the press say that a player is not happy, that's part of football. When he trains, he always gives his all.

It has become clear that you want a pivot. Would you like that player to be Nández?
Nández is not a pivot. There was talk of Nández before Nico's injury. He is a player with strength, desire, endurance and experience... But he is not a pivot.