CORBERÁN: "The players were up to the challenge of the situation"

Valencia CF coach Carlos Corberán gave a press conference after the win over Real Valladolid.

The importance of the win

I value the position in the table at the end of the campaign. As for the match, I think the team started well, we were dominant, we created enough opportunities to have scored more than just one goal during the first half. We did not take advantage of them and in an accidental action things became tougher.

The team's reaction

It is not easy to lift your spirits when you see that you have tried and had chances, and the opponents have barely reached your goal, and you are level at halftime. It's a feeling of pain, of a certain helplessness, and the key was to forget about that. There are games that are won by dominating, by being superior to the opponent, and games where you have to win even if you are not superior and are not able to dominate the opponents.

The goalkeeping position

Mamardashvili is affected and feeling very responsible for the error he made in the action that led to Valladolid's equaliser. But he was able to have a great second half, to recover, to transmit the security that the team needed: With a defensive intervention at first, being able to dominate the area, and coming out bravely. I like to see players who, when faced with an error, which is part of the game, take responsibility, accept it, react and overcome it. That is necessary in football.

Defence

It's true that today the goal conceded was not the result of a defensive action. Today the goal we conceded was the result of an error in an offensive action. I cannot classify an offensive error as a defensive action by the team. We want to grow through defensive solidity.

We are working on it and investing time in it, because for me it is important that competitive teams are built from that solidity, in the same way as from offensive identity. I saw the personality, the resilience and the mental strength to get a victory again in a situation of need.

The mentality

My mentality as a coach is always the same. I focus on each game we have ahead of us. I never create expectations, I never make any kind of plan.

I plan the week ahead to prepare rigorously and in detail for the game we have ahead. And in each game I want to see my team compete and play at the best level possible. Today I was satisfied at times with what we did. There were things to improve in our play at other times. And emotionally it was a demanding game for the team. I saw the players rise to the occasion as the situation demanded..

The strikers

I have three great forwards because Sadiq is showing it. Hugo has shown it too, but right now he is not available. The same with Rafa Mir. I have absolute and full confidence in the three forwards we have.

I think that Sadiq today exemplifies what the game was like. A game with mistakes at times. And with the mentality to recover from those situations he was in. I think there is a parallel between what Sadiq did today during the game and what the team did..

His message to the players

Knowing that we have a lot to do ahead of us, but that through work, effort, dedication, knowing how to handle emotionally difficult and complicated situations, together, is how we can achieve our objective.

So today's game, from now on, becomes part of the past and we will focus on what lies ahead. There will be a lot of work, which will demand from each of us the greatest dedication and the best of ourselves.

The fans

Today, in a rainy week, there were more than 41,000 people at Mestalla. We have a fanbase that is priceless for us. We are aware of this; the support they give us and their dedication is absolute. We want to repay them with exactly the same thing.

Today there was also a welcome at the doors of the hotel that made the players feel tremendously proud of the club we represent. The greatness of Valencia CF has nothing to do with the position in the table, it has to do with its history and with the fans we have.

During a match, difficult moments are difficult for everyone. Our responsibility is to focus on handling them in the right way.

The referee

I think he was exposed to unnecessary additional pressure. Not because of the doubts we had about his role in refereeing the match. I had very good references about this referee in terms of his level of refereeing. The referee's performance was in line with his honesty and ability to do a good job.