José Luis Zaragosi: "I am certain that, with patience, reinforcements will come in"

Valencia CF director and patron José Luis Zaragosi spoke to VCF Media in an extensive video interview on Thursday, in which he addressed several matters regarding the current situation at the club.

“I think that it is important to explain this thoroughly on behalf of the club, because I understand that people are concerned. Sometimes they don’t fully understand the motives and even get angry about things. The reality is that there is a financial situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic which obliges economic adjustment -as expected and as set out by the LFP in their Financial Fair Play rules, with which we have to comply,” said Zaragosi.

“It isn’t just us, although we have a situation in which we aren’t in Europe and are not allowed fans in our stadium, so our income is going to be ostensibly reduced. The other clubs will also be affected, because over half of the Primera División clubs are in ‘selling mode.’”

He also spoke about the possibility of new signings coming in before the end of the summer transfer market.

“Our coach is doing a great job. He’s an ambitious person, and we think like exactly like him in that respect. He understands perfectly what the priorities are at the moment, because economically we are in the situation we are in. It’s about building a competitive squad together for this season.

“I am also aware that he has managed to create a very united dressing room. He’s created joy in the dressing room. They work as a team, and show solidarity -which I would like to emphasise, because it is something that you see on the pitch sometimes.”

"We’ve said what the economic situation is, and it obliges us to get things in order. It’s very important not to get things wrong in sporting matters or economic matters, because we want a sustainable club in the long term. However, I am certain that, with patience, reinforcements will come in.

Zaragosi dismissed speculation that the club’s majority shareholder, Peter Lim, was looking to withdraw from the club.

“Definitely not. In no way will that happen. The health and economic crisis caused by Covid-19 has affected Peter Lim as well. That is evident. But he has the project of making a sustainable Valencia CF in the long term, and he is going to continue to be committed to that. It’s logical to think that somebody who has invested so much money in our club is the most interested in its success -just like us, the fans and everybody else. I think that he is going to continue moving the project forward.”

Also on the agenda was the construction of the new stadium, which has hit a delay due to the global events of 2020.

“We had meetings in both institutions and they were cordial. Valencia CF expressed a firm will to continue with the project of completing the Nou Mestalla. It’s true that, unfortunately, as a consequence of the pandemic, the project with ADU that was set for two years of exclusivity with them and which was to the liking of the Ayuntamiento and Valencian society in general, hasn’t been able to be complied with. That has led to a delay that has been further accentuated by the Covid-19 crisis. However, the will is still firm to continue with the commitment acquired to complete the Nou Mestalla.”