Paulista: "We need to keep this dynamic of clean sheets going"

Following the 0-0 draw with Eibar that concluded LaLiga Matchday 12, Gabriel Paulista was focusing on the positives of the performance from Valencia CF. The defender spoke with VCF Media at the end of a cold night at Ipurua, in which the team were only denied victory by mistakes with finishing and saves by the opposition goalkeeper.

"Obviously it's important to pick up points, especially with how competitively the season has started out. We need to claim points. Everybody knows that this is a tough ground to come to, where the opposition know very well how they should play. They send a lot of balls into the air, and we prepared very well for this game. I think that we did a very good job defensively, and we need to continue like that and continue to pick up points with clean sheets as well," said Paulista, one of those whose challenges and positioning kept Eibar quiet for most of the game.

As for missing out on the three points, he praised Eibar goalkeeper Dmitrovic but also reiterated that the players need to put away their opportunities on goal.

"Uros Racic had a very good shot that the goalkeeper made a great save to keep out. Then we kept up the dynamic of defending with a lot of crosses in from the wings. Maxi had a chance with a ball back to Gonçalo Guedes. We can't miss these types of chances. Gameiro's chance at the end had a great save by the goalkeeper -he's a great goalkeeper- but we can't let the opposition get away with these chances, because they won't do the same for us. We need to keep the dynamic of clean sheets going, which is important for us."

Next on the agenda is Saturday's meeting with Athletic Club, in which Paulista believes Valencia CF will be ready to compete.

"We have a week in which to rest up and recover from the effort we put in today. Saturday's game will be another tough one, because Athletic Club are very good on the ball and have fast players up top. They are a good side, and we have to prepare well for them. We will take away the good things about today, which was the defence and what we did in attack, and try to improve even more. We want to grow all the time, and spur on the younger players."