Voro González: “The team are competing and we can’t give up”

Valencia CF coach, Voro González, analysed the 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid CF in the rescheduled Matchday 17 game at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Analysing the match

Real Madrid were the better side. We came into this game off a delicate situation and it was not the best place for us to score points. In the first half we tried to shut things off inside and make sure that the team were organized, Madrid had more dominance and we went forward, although without having a clear chance. Then, in the second half, there was a great goal from Asensio and in 3 minutes they scored a second goal, also a product of the desperation of our high pressing. With the sending off the game was over.

Goals conceded

It has not been a one-off event. Conceding two goals in three minutes is not necessarily down to an error. The first goal was a shot from outside the area that was hit very well, and for the second they caught us looking for the equaliser and losing our positions a little. There was a deep pass to Vinicius Jr, with the speed that he has, and he finished. I do not attribute it to a specific problem. Madrid have a strong attack and it is normal for them to create chances. In the situation we are in, we came to compete, to try to defend, to make the game long... and to look for some option to counter-attack, but in the first half we held on and in the second -with the first and second goals- the game was over.

Reasons to believe

We have to hold on to the fact that there are 19 games left, that we have a team that train with intensity, that there is a good group with no cracks. It is situation that can happen when a team are in a dangerous situation, that there could be problems in the dressing room , but that is not the case.

We have to go game by game. We don’t have midweek games and we have to bring people back. We have to become strong in things that were done well before, improve the defensive aspect and go point by point and game by game without looking beyond every Sunday. I am optimistic that there are many points left and the team are competing and do not give up. We have an important challenge and we need everyone to achieve the objective, which is to score the maximum number of points so as not to be in such a dangerous situation.

Ways of playing

In the first half of the season the team have played in a certain way, bringing the ball out and generating chances through that. In recent weeks the results have not come; we have only taken 1 of the last 15. Before the break we were not in this situation.

We are going to adjust the offensive mechanisms with the ball, balance them, try not to make mistakes, compete better and, above all, I see one thing clearly: When a team know what they want and what the goal is, they do better. There were months when there was talk of Europe.

The objective now is to go day by day and to get points as soon as possible so as not to look down at the relegation positions. The coaching staff have to offer the players a vision of what the real situation is and make ourselves strong. We need to improve from defensive work and take advantage of things that were done well before.

With that balance and the attitude of the players, there is a group that is willing to work and is not broken, as I have found on other occasions. This group are willing to work and there are 19 games left. They are important elements to hold on to and try to grow. It's not going to be easy and it's not going to change overnight, but we have a very specific short-term goal and we just have to work.

The mood in the squad

It is logical that the players were dejected after the departure of Gattuso, because there was an empathy with the players and all our staff. They have been professionals and have worked long hours at the Ciudad Deportiva, we have seen them suffer and the day they left the players were hurt. But this is football and immediately you have to move on and start competing.

I’ve had this situation other times and there were more difficult dressing rooms, but this is not the case now. There are many points left and we have to hold on to that. The most important thing is the daily work and meeting specific objectives match by match.

Desire from the team

I have seen the players tense and with desire. Real Madrid won 2-0 and were the better side. The team had attitude, ran and adjusted to what we had previously discussed: Sticking together, closing up inside, going fast on the outside... and in a high percentage we achieved that, but Madrid had two actions that won the game.

The team complied with the game plan for many minutes, but to get something from the Bernabéu there have to be many things that happen.

Paulista’s red card

It was an action resulting from impotence and nervousness. Gabriel committed an action out of desperation. The red card left the team with one man fewer. We were already losing 2-0 and even before the sending off it was difficult, but after the sending off it was impossible. Those things cannot happen. You cannot leave the team with one man less. I'm going to talk to him so this doesn't happen again.

The captains have to be an example, but the frustration of the moment and the situation can make your head go. It was a mistimed kick. We have to tackle this radically because we need all the players. We started work 3 days ago and we need everyone. I'll talk to him and this won't happen again. I attribute it to frustration and his losing his head.

Gattuso

He has been a person who, from the first moment, with his personality and generosity acted as a leader and generated a synergy with the entire dressing room, through being demanding but at the same time human. He created a team that tried to implement an idea of football that, until the break, in a team with many young players, worked. You could see that he suffered with the job and experienced his work to the fullest, with tremendous passion and professionalism.