Baraja: "We wanted to win but the point makes us keep adding to our tally and look at the future with hope"

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja assessed the draw that his team took against Rayo Vallecano on LaLiga Matchday 27.

A draw

We have to make an assessment based on what we saw. At the start of the game we conceded the goal from their first dangerous move, and we had previously defended a series of corners well. From there we were up against it until in the first chance for Kluivert, which didn't go on. They did not generate much more difficulty for us. From there it was a very difficult game for us with the score against us, and against a good team that play well.

The team showed the character and personality to face difficult situations and in the second half we were by far the better side in our play, chances and defence of counterattacks, and we just lacked the finishing to win. 

A draw has its merit; we would have liked to have taken the three points but it has its positive inertia. The point makes us keep adding to our tally and look at the future with hope. The reaction of the players, together with the support of Mestalla, was fundamental

Nico
He has a sprain. We tried to see if at the beginning of the second half he could come back on, and in the end we changed him. It's a mild sprain according to the initial scan.


Anxiety
We were able to play in the situation we had. The normal thing when behind at home, with where we are in the table, is to be nervous, and today we tried to keep calm. We scored the penalty but an equaliser could have come from other situations. The important thing is to generate chances that mean when the finishing is there you have more of an advantage. The team generated chances and had more in the second half because we gave out all. It's a pity not to have taken the three points.

The fixture list
I'm not afraid of anything. I would be afraid of a disease or if something were to happen to my children, but in football you cannot be afraid. You have to work, make the players believe in an idea, and it does not happen from one day to the next.
Today we got a point, that before the game we wanted to get three. However, in a choice between losing and taking a point, I prefer to have a point. This is a long process and we will suffer, but if we have the fans on our side and we give them what we gave them today, the team should move forward and the table will be different.

We are in a better situation than when the matchday began, beyond the fact that we would have liked to have taken the three points. At other times this season, we would not have been able to tie the game, and for me this is positive.

Cavani

It is normal because he came off an injury, he needs rhythm. Today we started him because competition is what gets you in shape. He tried, and in the first half we didn't generate as much as in the second. We have to get back the best version of Cavani, because of what he can give us, what he represents and what he can do to help the team. I am convinced we can do it.

Injured players
Paulista has had an injury for four or five weeks and in the end we have to make decisions and have the peace of mind that any player will not have problems when they come back. Paulista is important to us and we need him to be fit. When we see that he is fine, he will play. We have confidence in everyone and everyone has to have the predisposition to come in and contribute, like we saw in the second half.

The start of the game

We had a lot of momentum at the start of the game, trying to connect with the crowd and provoke a quick reaction so that the fans saw that we were going for the game. But we had had a couple of actions go against us, and we didn't defend the cross well, even though we have been working on that so that it does not happen. There were some moments of uncertainty. The connection in the second half was good. We cannot give goals away and we cannot make a game turn against us from an action in which we could be better at making decisions.Their goalkeeper had a very complete game. We had the chance to equalise before the penalty and could have won the game, but we have to see that our start to the game hindered the rest of it.

The penalty takers

The other day Hugo Duro took a penalty and he didn't score. It was a good decision to give it to Justin, and fortunately this time it was a goal.We have a designated taker or two and we try to make them take the penalties, even though sometimes they aren't feeling confident. In the end we decided on Justin and he scored.

Almeria
There are always times when the dynamics change. We have the three points in mind there. We have to take the positives away and carry them over to the Almeria game, against a direct rival. We have to take away the showing from the team and the push from Mestalla. We have to be competitive away from home and change the dynamic. Away from home we have to think about winning in Almería and making today's point at home count.

Kluivert

He is important because he has some very special characteristics: Speed, reaching the goal, shooting, breaking down the defence... We want to get him playing at his best, he is working well and the reward of the goal helps raise your level. He is at a good level, the important thing is that he has continuity and keeps playing games like the one he had today.

A change of formation
We tried to change things with several players to change the scoreline, and the team reacted well. It's important to work on changes of formation, and we had done that during the week. We needed a change in order to improve, and the players carried out what we planned. The players are always the protagonists.