Valencia CF midfielder André Almeida talked to VCF Radio on Wednesday, commenting on the preseason and the start of the LALIGA EA Sports campaign against FC Barcelona.

The start of the season

“We have been working hard to start well and we have a good feeling. The first few games are very important and they can give us a lot of confidence.”

The Trofeo Naranja

"It is important to have won the game. It gives us a little more peace of mind and confidence to play with our style, and we are all very motivated to start strong and try to win this Saturday.”

The atmosphere in the dressing room

“We have great enthusiasm. We are playing at Mestalla and we have to always be at our best. We are going to try to win all the games.”

 The fans

“They are very important. They are our twelfth man and they are going to give us a lot of strength and help. We are going to give everything on the pitch and they can count on our effort.”

The fixture list

“These first 10 games are very difficult, but that’s like all of them. We are prepared to go for the win. If we start the season well, we can do great things.”

Baraja

“We train going game by game. Every week we concentrate on the game we have ahead and we are working to apply strong pressure on the opposition. I think that is the image we have from last season and we will continue working to improve some aspects.”

His 2023/24 season

“I was out for 5 months. It was very difficult. I am motivated, and last season I did not want LALIGA to end because I had only just started playing. I am really looking forward to it and I love playing football.”

His position on the pitch

“I played more as a midfielder when I was coming up, but I have the characteristics to play just behind the striker, although I have to get used to the way we play. I think it will go well for me. I am here to help the team and to try to develop as a player.”

FC Barcelona

“Preseason is very different from the season itself, but we are looking at an FC Barcelona side that are always strong and are true to their DNA. All of their players are good, including those from the academy. I don't know if it is better to face them now or later.”

The meeting with the CTA

“It went well. Every year they tell us the things that will change, but it’s nothing new, only what everyone knows. We can't talk to the referees that much, only the captain can.”