Baraja: “We are focusing all our energy on beating RCD Espanyol”

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja spoke to the media the day before his team’s game against RCD Espanyol, which takes place on Wednesday night at the RCDE Stadium.

The situation in the dugout

“I understand that I have to respect the questions asked of me. You journalists are talking about hypotheses that I don't know about, so I don't talk about that. The only thing I can tell you is how I am and how I am going to face tomorrow's game. I talk about my own business. If at any time Valencia CF had thought that I was not the coach for the next game, they would have told me. They haven't said anything to me and I think that the trust between us exists.”

The defeat against Real Valladolid CF

“The weekend has been tough because of the result. We had that hope of having a good game and getting points, and the game was defined by one action. We are missing the target on our shots. The important thing is not me, it is tomorrow's game. It is the most important thing. I will be here and in a while -I don't know when- there will be another coach, another president... and we have to worry about what we have to worry about in our specific moment. In this case, it’s tomorrow's game. We have to focus all our energy on tomorrow's game and the three points. We will concentrate on that.

Assessment of the squad at the start of the season

“I have no regrets. I am consistent, serious and transparent. I want to be at Valencia CF. I have no regrets. One of the reasons I stayed is because the group could stay together, and in fact they did stay together I have the chance to work with these players. I am the captain of the ship and if it sinks it will sink with the captain. I am not going to jump off early. I have no regrets at all. I believe in the team and that we are going to change the situation. All the noise besides that does not help the team. We cannot lose sight of the sporting objective. We have to be there through thick and thin.”

 Results

“It is a process. You have to work, insist and believe. Each game is an opportunity to improve things to get results, and that is what I focus on: Changing the situation. The players have to be daring, they have to try things and I have to motivate them to gain confidence and achieve the objective.”

 The confidence in him from the club

“I have no news from the club that says otherwise. The important thing is not me, it is Valencia CF. Since I have been here I have respected the club, our fans and the history of Valencia CF to the fullest. As a coach, I try to live up to the required results. People who know me know that I am here because of conviction, of responsibility. At this time, when the team are bottom of the table, I am not going to leave Valencia CF. I would leave if Valencia CF were eighth, were in the European positions... I am going to try to change the situation and I am working on it. Winning the match can make things click and make everything better. Everything else is unimportant; what is important is the sporting objective.”

 Preparation for the match against RCD Espanyol

“We are at a club with a long history and we have to be focused on our responsibility, which is the sporting aspect. We have to let the players dare, to believe in it... because they are the ones who will help us to score points. We are putting our energy into what we can control.”

 Respect

“I ask for respect, because when you want something yourself, you do it too. From that starting point, the answer can be defined. I think that if there is one thing that has characterised me in my career, it has been respect for the club and its heritage, which is the fans. That is not going to change and that is what I ask for myself in this situation. Tomorrow's game is possibly the most important game of the season, because it is tomorrow's game and it is a very big game -like the others.”

 Transfer market

“When that comes around, we will talk. There was authorisation to sign a right-back to replace Thierry -who is out- to provide competition for Foulquier.”

 The team

“Espanyol are a team with a lot of energy, who press. They will demand a lot from us physically. They run well into spaces, they have a good counterattack and at home they have obtained their best results. We have to try to make sure that they do not feel comfortable and impose ourselves in the game and the scoreline. This is the idea. The players are focused on their work.”

 Victories

“We always look to get the three points. It is the quickest way to reduce the gap and get closer to our target. There is a great need to win and that makes you feel like every game is the end of the world, and we have to live with that. We have to understand that this situation will be there for the rest of the season.”

 Fans

“I have received messages saying ‘we can do it,’ that we are going to achieve it. Messages from people related to the club, previous coaches… very affectionate messages saying that I am capable, that all together we are going to do it. I have that desire. There have been coaches who have won trophies and have been in a situation similar to mine. Why can't I maintain the idea that we are going to change the situation?”