Guillamón: “I’m looking forward to taking Valencia CF back to where we deserve”

Hugo Guillamón is looking forward to the 2022/23 season, having spent much of his summer break undertaking a special training programme to get back to full fitness. He spoke to VCF Media at the Ciudad Deportiva.

Recovering from injury

“I am really looking forward to getting started. It's been a bit of a different kind of summer break. I have worked hard to start the preseason well, which was the goal. Since the end of the season when I got injured, the goal was to get back in good shape for preseason. In addition, a foot injury is very tricky to heal up. I have also rested up for a few days. Since I had hurt my foot, we decided it was a good time to get my nose fixed as well, all at once. The doctors and physios have helped me during this time and I am ready for preseason. The important thing was to start the preseason well, which is important when it comes to helping the team. I'm working to get back in good shape and fine tune the details that are missing.”

His first meeting with Gattuso

“The first day that Gattuso came, when he was being shown around the Ciudad Deportiva, I was undergoing treatment and I was able to chat with him a bit. He seemed very friendly to me, and comes with a great desire to do a good job and with great enthusiasm -together with that of his coaching staff. We all hope that it will be a good year for Valencia CF. I was able to watch Gattuso as a player and he is a point of reference in the world of football. Now I've also been able to see him as a coach, and I think he's going to help us a lot.”

Expectations for the season

“We are very excited. A new coach is coming in who is going to bring us many good things. Both the whole team and I really want to have a good season, and for Valencia CF to be where the club deserve to be.”

Preseason

“When there is a change of coach there are new ideas and new concepts, and the team must grasp them as soon as possible, that is what the preseason is for, in order to start the season off on the right foot. Preseason is useful to help us start competing and to pick up the pace. Playing against rivals of this level will surely help us.”

The start of the season at Mestalla

“The start of the season is going to be tough. We wouldn’t expect anything else. It is important that we are starting at home and that the fans can help us get off to a good start. We are going to work hard in preseason to reach that day in good shape.”

Under-21s European Championships

“I hope that next summer I don't have much vacation time either. because that will mean that I will be with the national team. These holidays have been different because I have continued to come here, but the important thing was to recover well and reach the start of the preseason well.”

Learning last season

“Last season involved a lot of learning for me. Having that continuity gives you experience and makes you grow. The Copa del Rey final, debuting with the national team... These are experiences that add up and make you grow. Looking back, it has been a very exciting season on a personal level, with me achieving important goals both individually and collectively. Everyone dreams of playing in finals and doing that with Valencia CF is special for me. The reward of playing for Spain was a very important objective too.”

Settling in midfield

“I played as a midfielder from the beginning of the season. The coach explained to me what he wanted, he was clear with me from day one and he helped me improve in a position that was not entirely new to me. He gave me confidence and little by little I got stronger.”

Homegrown players in preseason

“It is very important for a team to be able to have players who come up from the academy, who take their opportunities. They give a lot to the team. The important thing is that they are calm, that they have rested well during the break and that they get to preseason well, which will help them learn, work and have opportunities in the first team.”

Mestalla’s centenary

“It is a very special year because of the centenary of Mestalla. Getting a lot of points at home is going to give us a lot. We have to be strong and make it a fortress again. The fans will be very important to achieving that.”