Bordalás: “The team have worked with great commitment ahead of a tough game against Granada CF”

José Bordalás spoke ahead of Valencia CF’s first away trip of the season, down south against Granada CF on Saturday evening.

Marcos André

"I cannot tell you absolutely anything about this subject. The priority is to complete the squad and incorporate players to give balance to the squad, I am not going to talk about any player who may arrive because as of today we have not materialised the steps that are being carried out."

Are you optimistic about the transfer market?

"Yes of course. Both the president Anil Murthy and the technical secretary, Corona, know of the team's needs to balance the squad, and I know that they are working to materialise the steps that the team needs. It is true that there is less and less time remaining before the close of the transfer market, but work is being done in the incorporations that the team need."

How are Jasper Cillessen and Kang In?

"Jasper is fine, he has already trained normally and is in the squad list. Kang In isn't, because he has been working with the team for a very short time and we consider that he is still not in the best condition to face a demanding match tomorrow."

How many signings do you expect?

"I'm not going to talk about numbers. We know the need to balance the squad, and we need several players."

What is Kang In's role going to be?

"Kang In is a Valencia CF player today. My mission and my responsibility is to get him in shape to have him available as soon as possible. I can't say anything about this because he is a Valencia CF player."

Have you been assured that the signings will arrive? Are you concerned?

"It is obvious and normal, because only Alderete has arrived so far. I am an optimistic person and I know that they are working to formalise the procedures and incorporations that are needed. I'm calm. It is the second matchday of LaLiga and some concern is normal, but nothing more than that. I am an optimistic person and I trust that these efforts can be finalised."

Did they assure you that Guedes is not going to leave?

"I have no news that he is a player who is going to leave. The club have not transmitted anything to me from the club about that. He is an important player, he has a commitment to the team and we do not know what will happen from here until the end of the summer, but my obligation is to use the players and work with them."

If the market were closed with only the incorporation of Alderete, what would your assessment be?
"I'm not talking about hypotheses: What happened, what might happen... There are still days remaining and we trust that we will have the players that the team need. I'm not talking about hypotheticals. I have already stated this: We are confident that players who will give us balance will arrive."

Assessment of Granada CF

“It will be a difficult, competitive game. They are a team that have maintained their foundation and the potential of last season, with important additions such as Bacca and their new coach, who give the team a boost. It will be a very difficult game, and we have been preparing it to face it. I only have words of praise for them; this league is very demanding and competitive, and tomorrow's game will be very difficult.”

The team's first away game.

"We have won the first LaLiga game, but that is history and we have to face tomorrow's game with maximum interest. The most important thing is tomorrow's game. We have a opponent in front of us and victories give us confidence, but they do not help you win the next game. We all know what it takes to win games and the team have to face tomorrow's game with an ambitious and winning mentality. It's another game and another opponent. in football there are similar games, but they are never the same."

Why do you train at Mestalla before matches?

"I have always done it like this. There are coaches who have different habits or customs, and I have always liked to train at the stadium the day before the game. I have always done it that way, and we request it be that way. I know that the last few coaches have not done it, but other coaches in the history of the club have."

Who will play in goal in Granada?

“I do not usually give out my XI before the players themselves know it. Giorgi was really good against Getafe and Cillessen is a magnificent goalkeeper. We have all of our goalkeepers except for Jaume available. You will find out tomorrow.”

Is Mauro Arambarri an option to come in?

"I cannot say anything or rule out anything. I already spoke about Arambarri, and speaking again is not the most sensible thing to do. We are focused on tomorrow's game with the utmost interest. We will eventually see which players arrive and who is within our reach, we are working to achieve this and I am sure that those who come in will help us."

Wass and Guedes

“I speak almost every day with Wass, his commitment is huge and he gives me the peace of mind and the confidence that he is very dedicated to Valencia CF. We are not considering any other possibility other than him continuing.

"We have no news on whether Guedes could leave. He is a Valencia CF player, he has a great commitment and I am sure he will have a magnificent year."

Intensity and demands

“I have not heard my players speak of excess intensity. Hugo Guillamón's challenge was without any bad intentions and there was exaggeration by the opposition player. I talked to the players about being very careful with the challenges because they can penalise us; that's what the referees and the regulations are for.”

Carlos Soler says that if the team goes ahead it will be difficult to lose the games.

"It is about being a balanced and consistent team, I have never seen a team that concedes goals easily and can achieve ambitious targets. The best thing is balance; it is important that the players understand what Soler says, as Valencia CF have been conceding goals for two seasons and it must be corrected."

Changes in Granada CF's style

“We’re only a game into the LaLiga season. I’m not one to make an evaluation of Granada CF this year, because the teams are not 100% defined. My concern is Valencia CF. We’ve seen them in preseason and against Villarreal CF. There have been changes to their tactics, but they remain an attacking, demanding team.”

Is Jonathan Calleri an option to reinforce the front line?

"I cannot speak of names at the moment. It is not the best idea, as we are immersed in competition, we have a very important game tomorrow and we must not divert attention from what is truly important. We cannot give names at this time."

How is Yunus Musah?

"He is doing quite well. You all know the extent of his injury. He is a young, strong boy, he is in the rehabilitation period and we trust that he will be with the group soon. He has great strength, he can help us a lot and we are working hard to bring him back soon."

The injury list

"Jaume is also in a rehabilitation period, like Álex Blanco. We are trying to get them back as soon as possible, and the rest are with the group. Kang In has arrived very recently and he still isn't in the best shape."

His perspective of the team

“The team have worked with great commitment. We have prepared the game really well and now we just need to put into practice what we have worked on. I see a good spirit and confidence, and we know that we have to work hard to win the game against Granada CF."

More than 30,000 season ticket renewals

“I think it’s great news that the fans are supporting the team in this way. This shows their enthusiasm and now we have the responsibility to respond in the same way, because in a time of a pandemic, those figures are something very important for the team. Our fans are what help us and Mestalla is our strength, so thank you on my behalf and on behalf of the club.”