Corberán: “I’m proud of the players and disappointed with the result”

Valencia CF coach, Carlos Corberán, spoke to the media following the Matchday 16 defeat against Atletico Madrid.

The final result

I'm very proud of my players and very disappointed with the result. That's how I feel. Every match is different; there are games where you can execute your game plan, and in others you can't. In some fixtures, the opponents allow you to continue doing what you do well, and in others they readjust. Some games go better than others. The team were more competitive than we have been in other big games. There's a step forward there in terms of personality, desire, and daring, but we're disappointed with the result.

The performance

We are Valencia CF, and we have to give absolutely everything in every game. Representing the club doesn't allow anything less than that: Maximum commitment and respect for the club. I'm proud of the way the team competed.

The team's competitive spirit

The first half showing wasn't reflected in us going behind. Then, after conceding the goal, we were able to react. It seems Hugo's kneecap was ahead of the Atlético player's heel, which is why the goal was disallowed. We had to overcome adversity because we had some players out. I leave here satisfied with my players and with the feeling that we let something that we deserved slip away.

His assessment of the refereeing

Perhaps Barrios' handball is difficult to understand, after the penalty awarded against us in Cartagena, but we believe in the impartiality of the referees and VAR. Hopefully, their calls were correct.

The strategy

I'm not aware of any defensive problems; we always want to improve, to do better. The team are growing defensively, and in a game situations can arise that need adjusting, but the tactics are related to our style of play and the opponents.

VAR

In terms of the refereeing, the only thing we can do is accept it. Humans make mistakes, and VAR is there to help and to try to ensure fairness in the decisions.