Bordalás: “The team have a weight taken off them with this important victory"

José Bordalás spoke to the media following the 0-1 LaLiga victory for Valencia CF against RCD Mallorca.

What is your assessment of the return of Gabriel Paulista and of this important victory?

I’m very happy, we were really in need of a win, as we were coming off a bad run of results and victories had been eluding us. The return of Gabriel Paulista was very important; he brought experience and solidity to the defence and his great goal was decisive. We are happy because we were facing a team that had a good dynamic and that were troubling us in some phases of the game, but the team were very serious and got an important victory.

How does this victory affect morale ahead of the Copa del Rey match?

It gives us a lot of confidence. Wins had been difficult for us to get, and this gives us confidence not only for next Wednesday, which is a vital and very important game, but also for the rest of the season. The players loosened up and we are very happy.

Was Gabriel Paulista expected to play the entire game?

Gabriel was fine. He was in a position to compete again, but to find out if he was ready to play the entire game, he had to play the game. During the course of the match he shared how he was feeling with us. He held on, and we are happy for him and for the team.

The team took three important points, but the game has been a bit stop-start at times. Are you worried?

The opposition were in great form. Confidence is a state of mind. RCD Mallorca had come into the game off the back of getting good results, and from achieving a big fightback against Athletic Club. We were in a bad dynamic of results, and that makes you risk less and protect yourself. We lacked a little calm and tranquility that a second goal would have given us in the last stretch of the game.”

What is the mood in the dressing room?

The players are happy because we needed to get a victory like this, which was not without difficulties. We are seeing how hard it is to win games, as all of the teams compete at a very high level. It is a victory that deserves merit. I give importance to the work that we did and to the seriousness of the team. We lacked calm and wanted more of the ball, but we are very happy and the dressing room is very satisfied with us breaking that dynamic. The team have a weight taken off them with this important victory.

What did you think about Mamardashvili's performance?

A clean sheet is very important, and you grow from there. We are the team with the second most goals conceded in the league, it is a deficit that we have and we continue working to improve and correct that aspect. It is not the only important thing, but it is essential. Giorgi had a great game, made an outstanding save and cut out several crosses. That gives him and the team confidence.