Hugo Duro: "We are indebted to the fans"

Valencia CF striker Hugo Duro talked to VCF Media this week, ahead of the LaLiga Matchday 29 fixture with Sevilla.

How is the dressing room handling things? 

The team are hurt by the defeat in Almería, because of how it happened and the importance of the game, but we are united and aware that it is down to us to get out of this. We are motivated and we know that we have the ability to get out of the bottom three with hard work, effort and the help of the fans. 

Believing in survival 

People make out that we are already down and we are far from safety, but there are 5 or 6 more teams like us. We have to be calm. It's a reality that we are down there, but we have already shown that despite losing we have been better than the opposition on occasions. We have beaten Real Sociedad and Osasuna at home, and against Rayo Vallecano we only didn't win due to details. 

Against Almería we didn't play badly, despite those two mistakes in 10 minutes that we have to improve, but the team are aware that we can get out of this. 

Persistence 

We have a 10-game mini-league season to come. Some 6 teams are down there and I think we are better than the rest, but we have to show it on the pitch.  First up is Sevilla at Mestalla, which is always a boost.

Small details 

This year we have been the better side in many games, but due to small details, we have ended up losing them. We have to change that and be more consistent. 

Self-criticism 

In the end, a football match lasts 90 minutes or more. Sometimes it seems that from the 80th minute onwards we are playing another game, but we need that from the beginning, not only when we are losing. Every time we switch off a little, we are punished. If the team are consistent for 90 minutes, and against Real Sociedad and Osasuna we were, we win the game. 

The need for optimism 

I think the worst that can happen to a dressing room is for fear to creep in. The team have to be motivated, train happy and work, knowing the situation we are in. We can't be sad on a day-to-day basis because that translates into the competition. The team want to get the most out of the game this weekend, which is very important. 

Avoiding fear 

We have to know that we all have to demand more from ourselves. Fear can be transformed into a positive, rather than not wanting the ball or being nervous on the pitch. 

The team know what is at stake in this match, especially after the defeat in Almería. We have to go game by game because every win or draw is very important.

Mestalla 

Our showings at Mestalla have been very good in these three games under Baraja. Football is about details, but I think the performances have been very good, except for the first 15 minutes against Rayo Vallecano. We have already seen that the fans are behind us despite the situation. For example, in the second half against Rayo, I had never experienced the fans like that. 

Fanbase  

People don't understand how they help us. In addition to being players, we are people. When someone cheers you on, that helps you, you're happy and more comfortable. We have no complaints and it's incredible how Mestalla helps us. I came here as an away player and when Mestalla pushes, it's intimidating. 

My individual feeling is that we are indebted to the fans. All year they have been supporting us and we have not repaid that. We are not doing our job well and the fans are, so hopefully we can achieve the objective for them. The year that we are having has not been bad, but details have put us where we are. 

Away tickets sold out for the game against Elche 

It's incredible. No wonder the tickets sell out so fast. That encourages you and helps you. Many people write to me who haven't been able to get tickets. We are going to help as much as possible, and we already did that in Almería. They are giving everything for us and they are hurt by the situation, but despite that, they spend hours on the road. We will do what we can to help and repay their efforts on the pitch. 

Commitment 

I consider myself a player who gives my maximum effort. There will be other players who are better than me, but one of my qualities is giving everything, which right now is an obligation. I think we are doing things well, but we haven't scored. I don't mind if all the games end in 1-0 wins with own goals, as long as we win. 

Right now, the personal side does not matter and the important thing is the collective. Hopefully, we'll be safe and I can get angry if I don't score. I don't want to waste the opportunity, but the important thing is the team and when we stay up I'll have time to get angry about not scoring. 

The goals will come. We are forwards, sometimes the ball goes in off your backside and other times you miss a penalty. It's all about form.