Baraja: “We had a very complete game and the win should be valued”

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja was satisfied with the showing by his side in the 2-0 win at Mestalla against Cádiz (2-0) on LaLiga Matchday 10.

A complete performance

Sometimes you prepare things and they work out in the game. We had this match in mind after the game Mallorca and we gave it the importance that playing at home requires, playing in front of our fans and looking for the win.

When you plan a game and on the first or second action you make the right choices and make it 1-0, everything opens up and is more positive. Until we made it 2-0 we had a fairly complete first half. We managed the game and the ball well and we got a good lead, then with the sending off we entered a different game.

Analysis of the win

The analysis has to be positive in every sense. When a team like Cádiz go down to 10 men who know how to play, who know how to track back, who know how to wait, who look for you to make mistakes so they can go on the counterattack and also look for dead ball situations -their strong point... you have to be able to play against 10 men. We had a good advantage and we had to be patient and look for a third goal. We had chances and we did not choose well on the last pass or with our decision making, and the game remained up in the air until the final minutes -where Cádiz pushed forward, logically. We lacked the calmness in those final minutes to manage the scoreline and kill off the game, but we didn't do that and the game could have become more difficult. It is something that we have to improve and be demanding about. Until the 80th minute we were good at maintaining concentration and then we needed to be able to play better in those final minutes.

Overall, winning the game was important and doing so with a clean sheet is positive. Adding points in the league is very difficult and we have to give it a lot of value.

The showing by the fullbacks

Gayà and Thierry are players who are specific to their position and when they are there they give you their qualities and virtues. They play deep and they attack well, which they did with great discretion. They went on the attack, but maintained the structure for preventing counters when the team lost the ball.

The fullbacks give us depth and reach from the wings. Gayà scored a goal and Thierry participated in the second. They both made a difference on the flanks and we are happy. We try to make it so that we can take advantage of their virtues.

The league table

We have to have balance and value winning, which at home is essential. We have to be solid and strong to achieve our goal. Today the team started the game very well; the fans saw that the team competed well and that is what we want. The table is anecdotal right now. I like more the feeling of seeing that the team compete every game, that they approach games well and make the victory like we had today count, so that the fans enjoy it. Any time we take points it is always positive.

A good start

Cádiz's way of playing is them waiting for you more and leaving you the ball. We had worked on being patient and moving the ball around outside to find the spaces on the inside. Our structure gave us the consistency to get onto the wings, and when you have opportunities and score it changes everything. The efficiency in these actions gave us the advantage and then we were able to manage it until the last minutes. We needed to kill the game off from some counterattacks, but besides this -which we have to be demanding with because we can improve it- we have to be happy with the victory.

Difficulties from Cádiz CF

It was a tough match because Cádiz's recent performances away from home against FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Girona had been good. They are a team that compete very well and push you to the limit. We had to start very well, be dynamic, have some rhythm in the circulation of the ball, find the spaces and be clinical.

Later on, we were able to manage the advantage well when they went down to 10 men. We needed to better handle the counters in the second half to finish off the game. When they put the squeeze on, we needed to have a little calm to kill the game off and not generate uncertainty in those final actions.

Looking for balance

Our keyword is ‘balance.’ That is both in difficulties when you don't get the results and when you win; we have to remain calm in both cases. Today there are positive things to take away and negative things to improve on. On the positive side was our defending off set pieces, which we were very solid from, and with Mamardashvili we were very daring bringing the ball out. These are small steps that we are taking to make the team competitive. Now we have to prepare for the next match, which is a tough game against Athletic Club.

Gaining confidence

We have to think that our objective is to prepare for the next game and that's it. For us, our goal is to compete in every game and at every ground.

At Mestalla, with the rain and it being a Monday, we wanted to be the ones that got the fans enthusiastic. They enjoyed a good game and the team played well: Loosely, with good combinations and with pauses when on the ball. We had a complete game and winning at home is essential for us. We have to value each point. It is the most important part of our objective, to win at home, and to do so today with a clean sheet against a team that competes well must be highly valued.

Fran Perez

He is a young player who is learning and who is growing. His evolution from last season to this one is magnificent and his performances have taken him to the Spain Under-21 team. He has to grow through his minutes, from making mistakes and by not making good decisions. Today he worked hard, was insistent, went deep and had chances to score a goal. We will give him confidence and consistency, because he gives us hard work on the wing and also depth and the ability to break on the wing - and he will improve those aspects.

Mamardashvili

He is important because there are games in which the goalkeeper has to keep you in it. There were a couple of actions where he was very good holding on to get the ball out, and he helped us so that Cádiz did not make it 2-1 -which would have generated uncertainty for us. He is a goalkeeper who has to continue growing and improving, although until the 80th minute he didn’t face a shot.

He was brave in some aerial duels, which is also important. He has to continue growing because he is a young goalkeeper and has a good future ahead of him.

Pepelu

He had a very complete game, understanding what the team needed. He is a very dedicated player, very focused, and a very important player for us. The team benefit from his work. He is a silent leader who is always there. There will be other days when he will not be at his best level, but he always performs at a high level and helps organise the rest of the team. He is having a very positive start to the season and his challenge is to have a complete and consistent campaign at this level.

Yaremchuk

When he came on he did well. He did what he had to do by coming into the middle of the pitch and then searching for the area. It is a shame that his goal was disallowed, because it was a boost that he needs. He is a player who can give us things by finishing off crosses