Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja spoke to the media ahead of the LaLiga Matchday 18 game against Rayo Vallecano, which takes place away from home on Tuesday.

Gaya

“We're going to wait for today's training session. He is feeling better, but he hasn't had enough training sessions fr us to be convinced. I have to talk to him to see how he feels. We will decide this afternoon.”

The match against Rayo Vallecano

“When statistics show that something hasn't happened for a long time, you are closer to changing that. They are a very intense, high pressing team and we have to play a game in which we interpret well what the game requires -and be attentive to the second actions and take advantage of our chances. They are in a dynamic similar to ours. At Vallecas they have had good results. It is a tough match. Concentration and details will make the difference. I hope and believe that we have the positive inertia of the result against FC Barcelona to face this one with a great mentality. It is going to require a lot of effort from us and I expect that response from the team. Winning would strengthen us a lot as a team.”

Performances by Guillamón and Yaremchuk against FC Barcelona

“It wasn't an easy game, because it's always easier when you come off a run of matches. They performed at a good level and, obviously, Guillamón raised the grade with his goal. He kept us balanced and distributed the ball quite judiciously. Roman was also doing well until he was exhausted by the intensity of the match. All of this is positive signs that I have the possibility to decide between several options, and the performance level of the squad increases. They are good examples that any player who perhaps is not participating now, if their time comes and they perform at a good level, they have the possibility of playing and participating.”

Analysing the year

“There can be many different analyses. We have experienced a difficult situation and we are putting all our energy into doing betterbetter. This process is based on this, and we want 2024 to be better than 2023. We are building the foundations for a better team in this coming year. The most notable thing is the unity between the team and the fans, as for us it has been fundamental. Regarding the game against FC Barcelona, I don't know what to say. It had been 5 years since there had been a full house and I take all this as a positive from my time to date as a coach.

Last year's experience was amazing in every way, and I always take away the positive. We try to assume the position of coach at Valencia CF with great responsibility and do it with the ambition to grow, and I am in that process that the team are in. We have to stay calm in times of difficulty and get things right as much as possible. I take the positives from everything.”

His comparison of Guillamón's goal with his own against FC Barcelona

“They were both good. Guillamón's has more merit because it happened now. Against FC Barcelona, everything has more impact. I'll take both of them."

Paulista

“He could be one of the starters. Anyone can play tomorrow.”

His wish for 2024

“Good health for my loved ones and to improve on 2023. That is the goal. We have to have that ambition and believe that, through hard work and our experiences, the team improve and we finish the season in a good position.”

Repeating the formation

“It is another different scenario, although in some aspects we will have to try to repeat what we did and take advantage of our moments. We could use a different formation. We will field the team that we think will be most competitive, and that also depends on the physical effort that we had the other day. Rayo are going to put pressure on you and they have great finishers.”

Yarek

“He is in that process of acquiring knowledge, learning how we play, and he has to work to be able to play in any position. He could even play as a midfielder because he has certain characteristics for that. He is a valuable part of the team because he can give us alternatives. Everything that is a different possibility for me is good for the team.”

Good results against teams near the top of the table

“It is to the team's credit. In these games the expectations of winning are low, because statistically they are difficult matches. The team are responding very well at Mestalla and I would like to transfer that to everywhere we go. I hope that is the case tomorrow. Against the big teams, things have gone well for us, because we have tried to take the play to what the game itself demands -and we have been successful."

Away matches

“We need to kill off games, know how to manage leads and try to maintain consistency. We are working on it. We want to make the players believe that we are capable of competing anywhere. It is a duty that we have. At difficult grounds, the team have been strong.”

Pepelu

“His performances speak for themselves. That consistency, always at a high level, is great for us. When you have that stable performance during a season, it iss very positive for the team. He gives us balance. He knows how to read the game and knows how to play for what the team needs. His work and effort has made him become an important part of the team.”

His numbers as coach

“One always wants more, but I haven't stopped to analyse things. What we do try to bring is that energy, that drive and to show what we want from the team. I want us to have an identity and compete with those hallmarks so that the fans can identify with us. Why not believe that this is the beginning of a good future? I always think about improving and making my numbers better.”

A packed schedule

“There are times in which, for example, last week we played 3 games in 6 days and this game we have one less day of rest than Rayo, but it is also true that in the other international break we played with an 8-day gap. This will be regulated so that everyone has days in which they rest more and others less. I don't think there is any kind of argument that Valencia CF have one day less to rest than Rayo, but rather the circumstances that have arisen are like that and it doesn't have to be an excuse to not compete well tomorrow."