Baraja: “The team competed well and fulfilled the objective”

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja spoke after the victory against UD Logroñés in the First Round of the 2023/24 Copa del Rey, played at Las Gaunas.

The match

“We achieved our objective. It might seem that everything was simple, but in the second half, it was difficult for us to have the ball and the game became difficult. I felt that we lacked continuity and we wanted to find spaces to kill the game. The team competed well under the circumstances we were in, competing against UD Logroñés, who have not lost a game in Segunda RFEF. The match was open and the team competed well and achieved the objective of moving on to the next round. The plan worked out.”

Mental preparation

“There is a mentality and work side with them because they are players who have been at Valencia CF since they were 5 years old, and today for them was an opportunity to have confidence and show that they are here on their own merits -and that they are here to be the future of the team. This gave us the support to be competitive.”

Yaremchuk

“When you play someone in one of these games, we do it so that they gain confidence and minutes, and picking up this rhythm is going to get him to his beat. Today he worked hard, although he was not lucky enough to score a goal. We are going to look at his development and growth to find his best form.”

Players registered with VCF Mestalla

“We had to be alert with this type of situation and we evaluated all of this before the game. We managed it well. We have also given minutes to players who needed a boost, who hadn't been participating, and we reserved players for Sunday.”

Hugo Duro

“He has a sprain and his return depends on the pain he has. It would have been different if he had suffered a fracture. Let's see his development. In theory, he will not be available for Sunday.”

Sergi Canos

"His substitution was planned. We have 3 windows for changes and we also have to go slowly with him."

Jaume Domènech

“Him playing today is the reward for a player who has been waiting for this moment for a long time. He got emotional at the end of the game. Competing and being captain is something he deserves. He is an example to follow and I am very happy for him. He is back competing and he is here to help us.”