José Bordalás: “We came here with the objective, motivation and intention of getting the three points, but it wasn’t to be"

What assessment do you make of the game? It seemed like a limited strategy.

I do not agree with that. The idea was to come here to get the three points, but we had a team in front of us who have been very tough at home throughout the season. We knew it was going to be a very intense match, it we struggled to adapt to the intensity and pressure from Rayo, and we had several losses of possession. At all times, the team went for the game, but we must highlight the work done by Rayo. They caused us problems, today we had difficulties and Mamardashvili was a protagonist with some saves, although we had the opportunity to score the second goal. They have a lot at stake and they beat us to many second balls, leading to the difficulties we had in the game. It was possible not to get the victory, and we came here for the three points, but we must highlight the good work done by Rayo, who have recovered the good feeling they had in the first half of the season. The team tried at all times, but we didn’t get the win.

You said in your press conference yesterday that after today you could say if Valencia CF were going to fight with the best or not. Will you be able to fight with the best?

Today we came here with the objective, motivation and intention of getting the three points. It wasn’t to be. We don't know because there are rivals who are above us who have an advantage, but the team are going to keep trying; we're not going to give up, far from it. The team have had great growth over the course of the season. Today the opponents generated chances and Mamardashvili had a great game, despite the fact that we conceded that goal at the last minute. We paid for a lack of experience. I told the players that they caught us on a counter, we should have been more organized and gone forward on the attack less. This team are ambitious, we are daring and attacking, but we lack that clarity and skill in finishing off situations.

You said that you couldn't put all the scoring responsibility on one or two players. What is missing for the team?

There is a lot of talk about the team's approach. I don't know if we have to start with six or seven strikers. We constantly talk about our approach, constantly… We have to know our limitations; we all know them and we remember the first half of the season. We have had moments of great difficulty and we must know the current level that Valencia CF are at. We all have great motivation, I have a challenge and I’m giving my all, but we have to be aware of the limitations. We cannot accuse the team of lacking a good approach; we have to go out and win the games, but we lack a few things.

How is Gabriel Paulista?

He had a bad feeling He has had bad luck during the season, and had recovered from two injuries. He needs minutes. The other day he played and performed at a great level. Last week we made the decision to play with three central defenders to protect Thierry and Gabriel, who were injured. They had to have less exertion. Today I made a mistake, it was a very demanding match and Gabriel Paulista was injured. Many times there is talk of our approach, of whether we play with three central defenders... Today I got it wrong.

How do the team face the final stretch of the season?

We are all expectant, and we can’t wait for the final to come. We face it with enthusiasm and with the ambition of achieving victory. All the players are working well, and in that final I will make the decision about the eleven that we consider to be in the best shape to play.

Is it difficult to live with the pressure and demands of football at this level?

I have a lot of experience. I'm calm. I'm happy because I think we're doing a great job, although sometimes from the outside you don't see it or experience it, because of the club’s history. We all have limitations. We know the limitations of the club at an economic level and we are in a moment of transition that we have to face. We would all like Valencia CF to be fighting for the Champions League, and I’m the first to want that. I am giving absolutely everything for Valencia CF. We have managed to get the fans excited and despite all the difficulties we have had throughout the season, and the injuries, we are still there. We want to bring joy to our fans in the cup final and from being among the best in LaLiga.