Baraja: “We weren’t up to our usual level”

Valencia CF coach, Rubén Baraja, talked to the media to reflect on the defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Analysing the game

“The analysis does not have to focus on the final result. We weren’t up to our usual level and we made it too easy for Real Madrid. We were unrecognisable, except perhaps in the time between it being 1-0 and 2-0. From there we fell apart. That's very tough. The difference was their effectiveness. It was difficult for us to understand that we had to play on the outside and not make mistakes when passing inside. The goal to make it 2-0 was from a loss of possession. We shot 3 times without scoring a goal and Real Madrid has shot twice and scored two goals and hit the post. What happened hurt me a lot. We lacked pressure, intensity… we have lost virtues that we had been showing in other games.”

Gayà’s fitness

“He suffered a knock to his knee in a move.”

Suffering defeat

“It is never positive to go into an international break off a defeat like we had today. We chose the worst place to make mistakes. We have to be self-critical, and we have conceded a lot. It was our worst performance and it has to help us learn. We can't lose this way. We have to reset during this break and be aware that every game is important, and be faithful to what we have been doing well. We always have to play at a very high level of concentration and be pressing.”

Pepelu and Mamardashvili

“Pepelu had discomfort and a yellow card, and the scoreline was comprehensive. That is why we decided to take him off. Mamardashvili is fine.”

Hugo Duro

“In the first half he had three chances and didn’t score, and in the second his persistence led him to get a goal. He is in a good dynamic. It is important that he generates chances and makes the most of his minutes. We are happy because he is showing character, he is being competitive and important for the team, and we have to try to keep this god run of form going.”