Gracia: "I don't want to even contemplate the possibility of not winning"

Valencia CF play Athletic Club at Mestalla in Matchday 13's early kickoff, and coach Javi Gracia spoke to the media the day before the game in his pre-match press conference.

Using improvement made

"We want to take the three points and we want to do that in every game. I don't know if the opposition are more or less difficult to face than any other. We will see during the game. The evaluation of the points we achieve may be different depending on how the match goes. Let's see how the game unfolds. We are giving great importance to this game and we know that we are playing at home, with all that is at stake, and that improvement in defensive strength will translate into a good result and a victory."

Aspiring to continual progress

"Saying that we have to play better is entering into very subjective assessments of what it means to play well or badly. Those seem to be very absolute terms to me. We always aspire to improve in all facets of the game. The determining factors in the Eibar game are different to those that we will see on Saturday. In order to make an assessment, all that must be taken into account. I think we are improving in many things: We are maintaining consistency in that we are not conceding chances or early goals now, and we are competing at a higher level every minute. We have not achieved a victory recently but we have been close. I feel that what we are doing is insufficient, but I would like to highlight a number of things that are being improved, and the fact that we can be satisfied with the performance from the team. The results are the consequence of work done, of a way of playing matches and I trust in it. We aspire to do everything better."

Improved defence

"It's a step forward that we needed. Not only because we keep a clean sheet, but also because in previous games we had conceded a lot. We felt that we had to start our games better. We achieved that and we kept it up for many minutes. It has to be a constant; it's a step forward that we do not want to lose. There are aspects in which we have to improve, such as in attack. But in defence, having conceded 17 goals already, is to dedicate time to this facet with the aim of improving -and we are seeing a result from that. After that, we must get more out of that scoring ability that we have shown."

The strategy against Athletic

"We will try to analyse them and we will try to prepare ourselves to face them. They have scored 12 goals, conceded 12 and their defence give you chances. I think that we will be able to play more in the opposing half and play another type of game with our attack that we couldn't against SD Eibar. We are playing at home, and the importance of the three points will push us to take more of an initiative and offer more in attack than in the last two games."

An even fixture

"Right now, the higher we are in the table, the better. It would help us in terms of confidence. But we don't have to worry about the table, and instead look at what can take us up there in the long run. Athletic are in a similar situation to us. They are a team with history, with potential and who are waiting to play a cup final. The differences are minimal and we want a change as soon as possible, to pick up the three points and to win regularly. I can see the difficulty in games constantly, be it against Athletic, against Terrasa, against Barcelona or whoever."

"What motivates me is getting the points that allow us to climb up the table. I don't want to even contemplate the possibility of not winning tomorrow's game."

Working to improve

"I don't feel like now is the time to be asking for anything. I think what we have to do is give, work as hard as we can -as we are doing- and trust that things will improve and the results will come. Little by little, these results will make these young players feel more secure and more confident. What I ask for most is that the players and myself put in the effort to improve the situation."

Cheryshev's availability

"He joined up with the group during the week. He has been training for several days and is another player who is available. We will decide if he starts, whether he has a few minutes on the pitch or if he sits out. But he is available."

Gayà's return

"I see him with being in with a chance to play against Barcelona. He is training with the group. We are taking things with the necessary prudence, but also with the need to have as many players as possible to face the packed schedule we have."