Corberán: "We have to represent Valencia CF in the best way possible"

Valencia CF coach Carlos Corberán spoke to the press before the Copa del Rey match against UD Maracena, and began his press conference by paying tribute to the late José Manuel Ochotorena.

I want to express my condolences for the significant loss we have suffered. Ochotorena is a legend as a person and as a goalkeeping coach. He has helped achieve great results wherever he has worked, and that is very difficult to do. I would like to point out that the sadness and silence that exists today at the Ciudad Deportiva speaks volumes about the greatness of José Manuel Ochotorena as both a person and a professional.

When he thinks the team can change

Results in football are a consequence of performances. As a team, there are times when we've not been achieving the level of performance we want, but there are times when we have been. I liked the first half against Villarreal CF; we were able to compete against a great team at a good level. You have to compete with constant demands on yourself. If out of 100 actions, you compete well in 99 of them and do poorly in one, it's not enough. As a team, we can and must take a bigger step to achieve an improvement in performance that leads to improved results.

The support of Ron Gourlay and the board

I feel here as responsible and with as much strength and desire as the first day I sat here. I analyse every game, I’m committed to improving the team's performance, I am always the first person to hold myself responsible, and I am eager to turn this situation around.

The need to improve

I analyse the games, and it's clear that in recent fixtures -aside from the things we've done well- we haven't had the results we want. We're focused on doing what we have to do to improve our current situation.

We have to represent Valencia CF in the best possible way in all competitions. We're focused on the next game, on approaching it with the greatest possible motivation and desire to have a good game and get a good result.

What he knows about UD Maracena

They're a team that don't play in the top divisions; they're in a different league, but they're in the same competition as us, and are there on their own merits because they had to eliminate another team before. They have a certain physical strength; it's going to be one of the most important matches in their history. Their level of motivation will increase. We want to have a good game, feel good, and get a good result.

Trying to move out of the relegation zone

We're focused on doing what we have to do to turn things around.

Javi Guerra and Gayà being subbed off against Villarreal CF

As I said in the press conference after the game, I'm surprised when people ask me if I am singling out anyone with my substitutions. Any player who starts the game has the possibility of not completing it. I have confidence in everyone. Those who start a game are just as important as those who finish it. I don't make any distinctions. You try to adjust the team based on what you are doing well.

Working psychologically with players

For me, each situation is unique; it requires an individualised analysis of the situation. I will always tell you that in my life, in order to solve any problem, you must be aware of reality. Situations are turned around with effort, hard work and actions, not with words. You need to put in the hours in analysis, work on the pitch, messages, persistence... You need a lot of awareness, a lot of work, responsibility, and demands of yourself. What I apply to myself, I transfer to the dressing room; what I feel and what I believe is what I transfer to the players. Through persistence is how things have always improved in my life.

Ron Gourlay’s call to action

Sometimes, when there's an interpretation involved, the meaning of a phrase can change. I understand what Ron said: the team have to have competitive maturity. I firmly believe in competitive maturity; it has to do with what you experience in each situation in a game. I know that to get a result, I have to do well in 100 actions out of 100; that's competitive maturity, and that's important.

Players unavailable

Lucas suffered a knock during the last match. His desire to help the team and the excitement generated at Mestalla meant he wanted to stay on, until we had to substitute him at halftime. After he underwent tests, it was confirmed that there's no major injury, just inflammation, and it's an impediment to him competing tomorrow. Before the match, I already said that Gayà was having discomfort with his ankle. This discomfort persists, and he'll be back tomorrow at least to travel with the team. Pepelu has a groin injury, and we'll see how that progresses.

Players from the VCF Academy being involved

Valencia CF are playing tomorrow. We have to find a competitive lineup; we'll see which players are fit to help us achieve our goal. We're going there with several players who are carrying knocks, such as Thierry, Pepelu, and Gayà. We'll have to complete the squad, and six academy players will be traveling: Panach, Iranzo, Otorbi, Lucas Núñez, Mario, and Jurado.

How to prepare for a match in the cup

Like with any other match, we gather footage, analyse the opponents and their characteristics, and focus on developing our best possible gameplan. We don't need extra motivation. The team are eager to turn things around; that happens through good play, having a good feeling, and going for a positive result.

The decision to change stadiums and play the game in Granada is beyond our control; we're delighted to play on a top-level pitch.

Whether this period is more or less difficult than when he arrived

I don't tend to compare situations, but rather look for solutions. The current situation isn't what we wanted, and we face it with hard work, responsibility, commitment, and attention to detail -in order to improve and turn around the current situation.

Valencia CF being in the relegation zone

I'm not one to look at the table at a certain time. I focus on each match, on seeing what we need to do to improve in attack and defence, and on conducting a continuous assessment of the team. Results are a consequence of performances, and we have to improve.

Possible tension amongst the players

From day one, I've felt the support from Valencia CF. I've had it since the club decided that I would be the one here to take on the challenge of keeping the team up last season. The dressing room faced a big challenge last season and found solutions to solve it. Many of those who were here then are still at the club, and before I came here they had already experienced other extremely demanding situations. All of this helps us cope better.

An opportunity for Dimitrievski

Dimitrievski will start tomorrow. Valencia CF never field players purely based on contractual clauses. There are clubs that loan players out for free, or the players cost money, or there are penalties... these are contractual aspects, nothing more. You can't draw any conclusions beyond that: In football, you play based on merit. The goalkeeping position is very specific; some teams decide to rotate goalkeepers, and others decide to give consistency to the one who has been playing. For a team to be competitive, you have to have great goalkeepers, and luckily, Valencia CF have that.