Bordalás: “I am convinced that we will beat RCD Mallorca with the help of the fans”

Valencia CF coach José Bordalás previewed Saturday’s game against RCD Mallorca at Mestalla in his pre-match press conference with journalists.

Are you noticing any kind of anxiety amongst the team after five games without a victory?

No, the team are fine, calm and eager for tomorrow's game. It’s true that we have not won in a few games, we want to get back to winning ways and do it for our fans, who will surely be supporting the team. I do not detect any type of anomaly, and we want to achieve victory.

How is Carlos Soler doing?

He is fine, fortunately. We believe he will be available. The feeling has been good and I think we can have him available tomorrow.

When will Correia be back, and how is he progressing from his injury?

I cannot be sure exactly. There is a muscle imbalance that is being corrected and improved. He is working with the physios, and there are parts of the sessions that he does with the group. We do not want to rush him, which might mean that he may have some kind of relapse. Until he is one hundred percent fit, we are not going to rush, because now we have several games in very quick succession. We hope to have him with us, if not tomorrow then on Wednesday or the following weekend.

To what extent can playing the game at 2:00pm disrupt the team? How do you think Mestalla will respond?

It’s not the best time, obviously. Neither team is happy with this timeslot, but we have to adapt. It is not the best time, especially for the fans: People have to have lunch early, and so on. We are confident that the fans are eager to support the team and to return to Mestalla, and we are confident that it will be a great day.

Guedes is the footballer who receives the most fouls. Have you talked to him to find a way to avoid getting kicked about so much?

He is an important player, a gamechanger, and the opposition try to stop him with numerous fouls. We trust that this will not happen continuously and that he can play football as he has been doing. Hopefully tomorrow he will have a great game, as he is an important player for us.

Do you feel that the team have an obligation to beat RCD Mallorca?

That has to be our goal as a team and as a club. My message is always that the objective is to achieve victory. LaLiga is very competitive, no matter who the opponents are, and winning games is not easy, as we have seen. We respect our opponents a lot, but we compete to win. Tomorrow we have a great responsibility; the squad know it, we all know it and tomorrow -together with the fans- we are going to win the game. I am convinced of it.

Statistics say that Maxi Gómez wins a lot of aerial balls, but has few shooting opportunities. How is this aspect being worked on?

We are working with him, in an effort to participate in the buildup play and help the team. He sometimes has less presence in the box than a striker should have. We are insisting on it and I think we will achieve it, making it to where he can really help us and is a very powerful player in the box. We are sure that he will help on the scoring side, and a striker lives off that.

What kind of game do you expect tomorrow?

A difficult game. They are all difficult. RCD Mallorca have players with experience in the Primera División, they play with a very high level of intensity, they have speed, and they do well in transitions. They are a team to respect, with many virtues and do well off set pieces. We know them and we have to give our best to achieve victory.

Has the bubble of excitement burst?

I have always thought the same way: Everything has a process and we know our virtues. We know what aspects we have to improve. This is a long-distance race. We have had a streak of adverse results where we have not achieved victory, but the team are working to grow, score points and continue to grow this season.

You have three games in a row. Is it time for rotations?

I always try to field the most competitive XI for each game. I am not a coach who believes in rotations. Right now we are only playing in one competition, and the players have to be prepared to face a number of games. The calendar is what it is. I am not obsessed in that aspect; if the player is not playing well then I choose another, but I always try to pick the XI that will perform best.

How is Cheryshev?

He had a strained ligament. He appeared for a few minutes at the Camp Nou, then had some discomfort again. We shall see if we can use him tomorrow. He is working to help the team.

What do you think of Mario Kempes?

He was an icon and an exceptional player who has given Valencia CF a lot. All football fans enjoy his career. He was a magnificent player at Valencia CF.

How do you rate Kang In?

He is a player who is helping his team a lot, a young player with a lot of quality. Obviously we must take into account all the opposition players, and we must not forget that they are in the Primera División and that each one, individually, has significant potential.

Has anything changed in the way you train?

No, in terms of training, no. We are insisting on details and aspects of the game that need to be improved. That is my job as a coach, working to change aspects of the game and improve defensively and offensively. Basically, we keep working to get stronger every day.

Several games are coming in a short time. How do you manage this situation?

We see the most immediate game as the most important. We cannot be thinking about the game against Real Betis or the one at the weekend, as these are the three most important points available right now. The team are mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to face the game, aware of the responsibility and commitment that we must have. For us, the most important game is tomorrow. We know that we have three games coming up, but without a doubt all our energy is focused on the match against RCD Mallorca.

You have never lost against RCD Mallorca or Luis García Plaza. What is your opinion of that statistic?

I don't take statistics into account. In football I believe in the present, I don't take the past into account. I did not know that statistic, nor is it something that interests me. Now I'm interested in the present, in Valencia CF and tomorrow's game. We have the utmost respect for RCD Mallorca. They have enthusiasm and desire, but tomorrow Valencia CF have to be at our best.

What is the reason for stopping holding training sessions for matches at Mestalla?

This habit has not changed, it has just coincided with the pitch being re-laid at Mestalla. For the next game we will be able to train at Mestalla, and it is a habit that we are not going to lose.

For Hugo Guillamón and Yunus Musah it will be their first match with 100% capacity at the stadium. How do you think it might affect them?

Despite their youth they are very mature and they have great personality. I don't think it will affect them in any way. They have great responsibility and they know they are at a club with a great fanbase. We have a very demanding fanbase and that fills us with satisfaction and responsibility. I always tell the players that this has to make us feel proud and responsible. A professional works for Valencia CF, to defend the club’s interests. They have personality and that has to affect us in a positive way. Mestalla having a very large attendance fills us with pride and has to be a plus.

Could we see any rotations to avoid injury risks?

We are working with a company that gives us very accurate information on injury risks. We listen to them because of the data they provide us and their GPS, as we are not irresponsible. Sometimes injuries appear unexpectedly due to a movement, for example, but we control the issue of fatigue quite a bit and we have done well in recent years. We are doing an exhaustive study. We have had bad luck with injuries in the last few games, but this is going to change.

You coincided with Kang In for a few days. How do you remember him?

I spent very little time with him and I cannot give an opinion, because we have not had much time together. He spent very little time with us as his departure had already been planned for a long time and we needed his spot to bring in a new player.