Gattuso: “We have to play with our mentality, with great desire and quality”

Gennaro Gattuso appeared in a press conference ahead of Valencia CF’s away game against Rayo Vallecano, on LaLiga Matchday 5.

Message of support for Jaume

My coaching staff and the entire team are very sad about what happened to Jaume. He is a very important player. We don't like the situation at all, but he has to be with us in spirit. We have lost a very important player and I am very sad about it.

What are you going to do about Gayà, Lato and Vázquez all being available?

I have to decide, but it is better for a coach to have this problem. I’m happy in this case. Jesús has played well, Toni has played very well. Gayà is our captain and he has worked in an incredible way and tomorrow I will decide who plays, but I am very happy with this 'problem.’ If Gayà trains well, he plays. I respect the national team, but I am looking out for my team, for Valencia CF.

How motivated is Gayà?

He is a very experienced player. He has been very angry but he is a professional. He has always trained well. He has a great mindset. He always has good things to say in the dressing room, like Jaume. When something happens that is not right, he is always the first to react, so he is a very important person.

How is Cavani coming along?

He will continue to work in the same way. It’s early. He has been training very well and I think next week he will start being available to us.

Are you aware that the club are going to renew Jaume?

I’m not thinking about that. I’m sure it will happen. I think that on Monday, Tuesday or today the contract will be signed.

Is it necessary to look for a backup to cover for the loss of Jaume?

We are looking. The problem is that VCF Mestalla also have games, and if we take a goalkeeper away from them, then they have a problem. After tomorrow's game we will see if we have a solution or not.

Cömert and Diakhaby are playing very well but now Gabriel Paulista is back. Have you decided who is going to play?

Tomorrow we will see. Now I have more responsibility because they are all available. I think right now I have more solutions. Eray and Diakhaby have played very well and I have to decide who is going to play.

Rayo have not won at home in LaLiga since December, but they have given problems for teams like FC Barcelona. What is the key to beating them?

Playing at Vallecas is not easy. The pitch is small and this week we have worked with these measurements. We have a very difficult game ahead. I don't like to make excuses. We have to play with our own mentality, and with great desire and quality, if we want to come back with a positive result. I have told the players that it is not an easy game

Could Cavani get his first minutes against Celta?

I’m not a magician. The week has gone very well for him. The week before we had more doubts, but this week he has worked very well and I think that next week he can train with us. My priority now is Rayo. This week I have not thought about Celta. I speak with the medical staff and they tell me that Cavani is improving, and on Sunday we will talk about when he can be part of the squad.

Did the team take pressure off themselves for not having scored in previous games when they put five past Getafe?

The match against Getafe has already passed. We have to continue with the same mentality, both at home and away. Against Athletic it was almost the same XI that started, and we have to continue like this. At Mestalla we have the support of the fans and the adrenaline is different, but whether we play at home or away doesn't have to affect us.

How are the team training?

A team that wants to play hard has to train hard. I am very happy with this team. It's amazing how they train. They go all-out throughout the session. There’s the opposition as well, but I love the mentality of the team because of how they are in the dressing room and on the pitch. That’s the key.

What aspects are standing out and which ones need improvement?

I was surprised that in two months we could play like this. I was surprised by the mentality, how they train. I'm very happy. We have to improve our final ball. We need to play with less of a hurry and with more lucidity.

Would you renew Lato’s contract?

If I were the owner, I would renew Lato’s contract. I'm not giving anything away, I'm saying what I think. But I am not the owner and the money is not mine. When I talk to the majority shareholder, or Layhoon, I also tell them what our strength is. Jaume has been injured, but when he trains he thinks that he is playing in the World Cup final. I have not met anyone who goes more full-on than me, but Jaume does -not only when he trains, but always. Gayà and Hugo too. Everybody.

Could Kluivert enter into the rotation now?

In the last week he has worked very well. He has an extensive workload in training. He doesn't have minutes in his legs, but he has speed, he has quality and I was talking to him yesterday. I told him that in his career he has always played at 50% -which can’t be the case. He has to go all-out, train hard and play with very high intensity.

It is not possible for him to play at 50%. He has to do more and I think he can do it here. He has quality and when he is able to use his speed he is unstoppable. He can help a lot.

How is Marcos Andre doing?

He has a niggle. It’s not from the knock that he received. He has been suffering from heel pain for a long time. He sometimes trains with discomfort. This week he has missed two training sessions, but today he trained. He is certain to be with us in Madrid.

How has Musah evolved and what have you worked on with him?

He’s evolved like the rest of the players. When I came here, twenty clubs called me asking about Musah. He has quality and he is playing a style of football that he likes. He is known around the world and has a very high value. He has to work hard, he has to play and many teams in the world want him. What I like about him is his humility. He is incredible, he really likes to work and this is very important for a young kid. Humility is key. He has technical quality and strength. He is very important and he has to keep going. He has played two good games, but a top-level player has to play 40 games like that.

How does the size of Vallecas affect tactics?

We have worked with the same measurements as they have at Vallecas. Little changes because your style is your style. We have to work very well on the second ball. In possession, little will change.

Have you talked to Lim since the start of the LaLiga season?

I talk to Layhoon. As for talking to Peter, after the match against Celta I have three days off and then I will go to Singapore to talk to Lim. He doesn't like to talk on his phone, and I'm going to talk to him in Singapore. It is an honour and a privilege. My wife is not happy about me being away, but I have to go.