Bordalás: “We are focused on a very important game against Rayo”

Valencia CF coach José Bordalás gave a press conference ahead of his side’s Monday night fixture against Rayo Vallecano.

Can you give us a rundown of the injury list?

Maxi has some problems with his fifth metatarsal and is trying to recover to see if he can make it for tomorrow, but it's going to be difficult. He still has some discomfort and we have decided not to push him. The others have been incorporated into the group; some at a lower pace, but we already have almost all of them. Bryan is doing better, so let's hope that he can be available. In principle all of the players are available, except for Diakhaby who is suspended.

Tomorrow you play Rayo, but it's hard not to talk about the cup. Do you sense how excited the fans are about the final?

Yes, of course. We all know the importance of that match. It is a final against a great team in Betis. A cup final is always special. Obviously the date is approaching and it is inevitable to look at it out of the corner of your eye. However, we are focused on LaLiga and we have a very important game against Rayo. They had a great first half of the season and in the second they are struggling a little more. We face the match with the utmost interest in scoring points. We have the possibility of moving closer to Villarreal and Athletic.

You have said that Rayo are not doing well. They haven’t won in 2022. What has changed?

I don't know. Their coach will know. That shows us the difficulty of this competition. They have lost games by slim margins and have been able to draw against Betis and Sevilla. They improved in the last game in Granada and a sending off took the victory away from them. They are always difficult opponents and have been showing that this season. We can't overlook anyone at all, because LaLiga is very tough. Yesterday Mallorca beat Atletico Madrid, and it is proof that anyone can win against anyone. We have prepared the game well and we are going there with the utmost motivation to win.

Have you spoken with Peter Lim? Does he know if he will be present at the Copa del Rey final?

I don't know if he will come to the final. I have no idea. I don't know. It is a very important moment and we are not thinking about the future, but rather about the present. We have a very important final and a very important final stretch for the interests of the team. Our fans have regained hope and we have a great responsibility.

Do you think that the team can fight for a spot in Europe and also think about the cup final?

We’ll see. What is clear is that we are not going to take unnecessary risks. The final is tremendously important and if we have a problem or a risk of injury, then those players will not participate. It would be reckless to take a risk with such little time before a final and play someone who could get injured. We have many games in a row coming up, and we will see what it holds for us. Tomorrow we will see if we can fight to be among the best.

Does the absence of Diakhaby influence a change of formation at the back?

Diakhaby is a player who has got back to his best this year. He has adapted well to what we have asked of him. He has been an important player and his absence is important. However, it does not necessarily hinder our formation, because we have players who can adapt to the three-man defence, like Hugo Guillamón. We could play with back four, but not because of the his absence but rather because I decide on that.

You have reduced the amount of goals scored. Is it a problem that the team are risking less?

The issue of getting goals cannot depend on two players. There are players who have to contribute more on an offensive level. It is a matter of getting into the box. Our wingers have to get more goals. Goals  cannot be reserved for just one player, and they know that. We have to score more. It isn’t because of the formation that we are less offensive. In many phases, with three centre backs, the wingers have a lot of prominence. By playing with three central defenders, the team are not less attacking, but rather we have to take a step forward in terms of scoring.

Do you think the team depend on Guedes and Bryan Gil too much in attack? Is it necessary to win the cup to consider it a good season?

We cannot depend on one or two attacking players to score goals. We all have to participate much more; not only midfielders or wingers, but also central defenders from set pieces. A centre back cannot finish the season with zero goals. How many games do we see in which there is a stalemate and a central defender gets the three points? It is a question of sharing the goals around. As for us winning the cup or not, you all know how difficult it is to reach a final -and from there anything can happen. Betis are a great team, but we aren’t thinking about the possibility of not winning beating them. In our mind there is only the possibility of winning, with our fans supporting us.

Are you worried that the atmosphere around the final is too lively and could affect the team?

We should appreciate this. At the beginning of the season, certain doubts are always generated due to the results for the team in the last two seasons. Our day to day work will show if we can fight to the end or not. We are going to try. It is very important and we must value that we still have the chance of getting into Europe via the league. I don't know if everything is focused on the final. I imagine that the same thing will happen with the fans. It is not easy to get to a final instead of teams like FC Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Atletico, Sevilla FC, Villarreal etc. We are privileged and it is normal that the fans are excited.

How is Alderete? Are the players also keeping something in reserve?

The team are just as committed. The team are aware that we have to get to the final in the best form possible. We won’t force things if there is a risk of discomfort or pain, but in the competition you cannot reserve anything. Tomorrow we have to compete at the highest level to achieve victory. We can't play at 60%. We aren’t risking things in case there is a chance of a muscle injury. Then there may be an injury that you can’t control. If we want to have any chance of fighting to be among the best, we have to compete at 100%. Those who go onto the pitch tomorrow have to give 100%. Alderete had some discomfort in the soles of his feet and went off in training to put on a protective support, but he is fit to play.