Baraja: “Today football wasn’t fair on us with the result”

Rubén Baraja talked to the media following Valencia CF’s 1-2 loss to CA Osasuna at Mestalla, and assessed the performance from his side on LaLiga Matchday 3.

The coach highlighted the team's effort and Mestalla's drive, especially in the second half, and regretted that last action in stoppage time in which Valencia CF conceded the goal of the defeat in a corner that came after a foul not signaled to José Luis Gayà.

His evaluation of the game

We didn't deserve to lose today, based on what we saw in the game. Analysing the game, we didn't get the rhythm we needed, it was difficult for us to position ourselves well and we conceded the penalty, making it an uphill struggle against opposition who defended well. We were playing well by halftime.
In the second half we attacked, we generated chances and we achieved the equaliser that we could have scored earlier, and we had the chance to win with Javi Guerra's shot.
I am really angry about the last action that led to Osasuna's second goal. That situation makes me angry because, in a game that became so difficult that we couldn't win, because it was tough for us to find the equaliser, on that last action things happened that we should not allow if we want to score points.
First of all, there was the foul where José Luis Gayà was pushed, then we let the ball loose when we could have got it out of the danger zone. Then, from the corner kick, two actions were won by them in the last minute, and that is something that really annoys me.

Defending during the game

They had two shots in the entire game. The move for the penalty -and from what I saw Correia seems to touch the ball- is the referee's decision. I did not see Osasuna put us under siege and generate many chances. Doubting the defensive situation of the team seems a little too far to me, but it is evident that in the last action we didn't defend well and we have to work on this, because those are the details that prevent you from losing. The road is long and each point and each action has its value, and we have to learn from them. Today football wasn't fair on us with the result, but sometimes this happens. We have to continue to prepare for the next game and work hard.

Hugo Duro

Hugo had done a very good job on the first two matchdays, but he had not got a goal. Today he had several chances and he has scored, so I am very happy for him -because in the end the work of a striker is only valued by the goals that they score. I'm happy for him and I hope that breaking a drought gives him the chance to score goals in the future -which we're going to need.

Managing the draw

When it was 1-1 we were close to making it 2-1 with a clear chance for Guerra that the goalkeeper saved very well, but on the final action we defended badly. First it was a foul on Gayà, and then it can never be a corner: When in doubt you have to get the ball out of the danger zone. From the corner, we didn't do well. You have to take care of the details.

Fitness

During preseason we always talk about the most important thing being to prepare well for LaLiga and then put together a good squad. We must evaluate the work we have been doing so far and think about what the future will be. The players have to pick up pace, fine-tune their fitness... We will try to balance out the minutes for each of them so that they can contribute with good performance and we have the fewest physical problems possible.

Mestalla

Mestalla always supports the team, and when the fans see that you are in difficulties and need a boost, they give it to you. Today they pushed a lot in the second half, above all because the team were generating chances from the outside the area and had opportunities that drew the fans in. Mestalla appreciates the effort of the players and the fans know that they have to support us, because we need them. We can only be grateful for how they support us and we hope they continue to do so in the future, as there are always moments of difficulty in the season and they are fundamental. We need them.

Paulista's injury

It seems that he had cramp, but we cannot assess the extent of it at this time: Whether he is injured or if it was just discomfort.

Young players featuring strongly

The team are young, but with work, effort, energy and perfecting things that we can improve with the passing of the minutes, these youngsters will be able to grow. That is what I believe and what we transmit to them.

Today we saw a good version of the team in the second half. I did not like the first half, and the second half is what I expect from them: Consistency with what we work on and what we ask of them.

Castillejo

Castillejo has a contract with Valencia CF, but he knows his situation when we told him and I have nothing more to comment on that subject. He knows what his situation is and he will have to make a decision.

Diakhaby

We look for balance, energy, to stay strong inside in battles for the ball, and second balls. He has contributed today, and we thought about changing him at halftime because he had a yellow card and we were losing -and we needed something different. We know that he can play at centre back and central midfield, and we try to maximise the resources we have.

The transfer market

We need to have offensive variants and different possibilities, because matches can get difficult, as we saw today. We have to modify the approach on the fly, which is the most difficult thing, and for that we have to have options and find those players who give us those options. That is what the transfer market should give us.

I am not going to be insisting on the issue of transfers every day. There are a few days left and I hope that a signing can be made.

Sergi Canos

He did well because we needed to shake things up from that position to try to find Gaya deep and for him to draw out the fullback, as Osasuna had doubled up there.

In the future, when his fitness improves, he will be able to contribute his quality, good decisions in the final metres and chances on goal.