Baraja: “The team's work translated into a great victory”

Rubén Baraja talked in a press conference following Valencia CF’s 3-1 win at Mestalla against Villarreal CF.

Moving up to 26 points from the first half of the season

I'm not much for doing maths and calculations. Our plan is to compete in every game. Today was a day for us to feel important. The year began after the Christmas break, we were playing at home against great opponents and we have achieved the objective of having a good game, being competitive and carrying out the game plan against a high quality team. We were fortunate enough to get it right, and it always gives you confidence. I felt good about the game and now I just have to enjoy it. I never do calculations and numbers. I just go day-by-day.

Gayà, Pepelu and Yaremchuk

I don't like to single out individuals, but José is an important player for us, we have had him out for a while and he gives us that depth on the left wing. He was very accurate in his decisions and gave us the possibility of taking the lead. Pepelu has continued the good dynamic from the season and was also lucky enough to score both penalties. There is a consistent feeling about his performance and that helps the team.

The most important thing is how the three points have been achieved: Players who were not playing as much and contribute to the team, players like Roman who scored a goal. The more we play as a team, the stronger we will become.

I really value their predisposition and commitment because there have been times when they have not been playing so much, and they have been determined to do well now -and that is their credit. There are specific cases of players who need their time and confidence, like the forwards. His goal will surely give Yaremchuk confidence. The objective is to make a team in which everyone participates, and in which when you replace a player it is not easy to choose, because everyone pushes to play. The most important thing is that this strengthens the team and we continue moving towards the objective.

The best half hour of the season

The first half hour was very good in terms of what the game required; we showed high pace and pressure and Villarreal felt uncomfortable, because they have quality with the ball. When you have good moments and you translate that into the scoreline, it generates great confidence. The first half hour was very good and the entire match was what I was asking for, because then they had a little more control and we performed well. The team's work translated into a great victory against a great team.

Playing after breaks

We tried to repeat performances in which we were consistent in effort, in the plan that we set out, and to be competitive and have the possibility of doing things well and winning. Above all, I wanted to push the players on an emotional level to feel the ambition and the desire to look for the win.

Objectives

I don't want to get into these evaluations. I just want to enjoy this moment. We have returned from the Christmas break and we had a good game, so we want to enjoy what Mestalla did, how the fans pushed and helped us. Going into evaluations for the future does not lead us anywhere. The competition will put us where we deserve to be. Now we are in a good situation but we have to have balance, like in the moments when we have not been able to win in 4-5 games, now we have two victories in a row. We will enjoy today and think focus on the next game, which will be in the Copa del Rey.

We are happy with how the team are competing. Sometimes we have not won and I have also said that we have been performing at a good level. We are capable of doing many things well and when we are successful and consistent it gives you the chance of winning games. I'm not going beyond today's assessment of us starting the year well, making it two wins in a row that give us more confidence, and seeing how we have to compete to win games. If we compete like we did today, we will be closer to winning. Doing the maths doesn't make sense because there is still a long way to go. We have to enjoy this moment and focus on the next game.

Mestalla

The fans identify with the team and feel that the team represent them with how they compete. We saw that this week with the open training session, with 15,000 people coming out, with the kids and the fans who are the heart and the engine that drives us. Today they were able to enjoy a match like this in a derby, and that makes them excited and it is contagious. It gives us a lot of energy. We work hard so that they can enjoy these moments.

Copa del Rey

Our goal as a club is to compete in all competitions and the Copa del Rey will be one in which we try to do well, but let's enjoy this moment and the Copa del Rey will come. That game will be against opponents that will be tough, as all the teams want to go through.