Bordalás: "We face the tie against FC Cartagena with maximum interest, enthusiasm and commitment"

Valencia CF's head coach, José Bordalás spoke in pre-match press conference ahead of their knockout tie in the round of 32 in the Copa del Rey against FC Cartagena.

What is the status of the players who have been out?

Some are already back with the group and others are still in the COVID quarantine period. Those who were injured continue to be in their recovery period.

How do you see tomorrow's game? Cartagena are in good form.

We always face any competition with the maximum interest, enthusiasm and commitment. We know that it is going to be a difficult match. Cartagena are in good form. They have some very good numbers at home. We know that it is going to be a difficult game, because we have seen what has happened in the first rounds of the cup. We know that we are going to face a good team, with experienced players.

Can you confirm that there have been conversations with Wakaso? Is he the type of player the squad needs?

I cannot comment on any transfer because the market has just opened. We have players in our sights who could help us. I have been told that I have had conversations with Wakaso. I am very fond of him. I talk to him from time to time, just like many players I have coached, and I ask him how things are going. Wakaso is in the Chinese league. I have always kept in contact with him. He is a good player, a player that can help any team, but that doesn’t mean to say that he might come to Valencia CF. I don't even know his contractual status. There are many other footballers who, if we consider that they can come, are welcome because they will help us.

Mamardashvili has been signed. Would it be better for his development if he were loaned out and had minutes?

He is a player who arrived in the summer and was a surprise. We were forced to play him and he did really well. He is young and has to work hard. He has significant room for growth. He is training with us and he is working well, and we aren’t thinking about the possibility of a loan, because the season is very long. He is working well and has the same chances as his teammates. A club like Valencia CF must have a minimum of 3 goalkeepers.

How vital will these games in January be for the rest of the season? Is the biggest urgency to strengthen at centre back and central midfield?

They are positions that we tried to reinforce in the summer, and it was not possible. We are reaching the midway point of the season and we can see that we have a need in those positions. All games are important. We are going to face teams that aspire to ambitious achievements. Sevilla have a very competitive squad and are now five points behind Real Madrid. It can be intimidating, but we take things game-by-game. Now we are focusing on Cartagena and going through to the Round of 16, and on Saturday we will face Real Madrid.

Is César Tarrega available for tomorrow?

There are some doubts, but they will be clarified for us shortly. In principle we won’t have him available, because he picked up a fifth card with VCF Mestalla and that means that he cannot play for us. We don't know if we're going to be able to use him.

Have you been able to speak to Peter Lim?

My feeling is good, because we talk every day. We have transferred the needs that we consider that the team have for the second half of the season, which will be very demanding and difficult. The club understand that it has to be like this. I have full confidence that players who can help us will come in. What I do not want is for players to come in who do not give us a step up in quality. It is not good business for them to arrive just to take up space. I have not spoken with Peter Lim due to the situation with the pandemic. There are difficulties and he has considered that travelling is not the most convenient measure. I talk to Anil and Corona every day.

Tomorrow's game is very important. Do you think that keeping a clean sheet would increase confidence?

Undoubtedly. It is one of our pending matters. There have been games in which the team have shown strength, and others in which they have shown fragility. We cannot allow that. To go through tomorrow, we have to be reliable, solid and show our offensive virtues. If we do not work well defensively, we will experience difficulties.

Where do you think conceding so many goals comes from? And what do you ask of players like Maxi or Marcos André up front?

On a defensive level, when you concede goals there is always great responsibility from the goalkeeper and the defensive line, but it is not always the consequence of errors in those positions. Sometimes its down to not dealing with midfield pressure well, or not winning second balls. The players who start the defensive work are the forwards. When you attack, it’s the same. It’s a team game. It is a collective responsibility, and mine as coach. We continue working to improve the numbers, which are vital for this second half of the season. The teams are beginning to establish themselves in their spots, and it is going to be a fierce fight.

Was the turnaround in the Espanyol game a warning for tomorrow? And have you asked the club for experienced players?

It is very important to know how to handle games. But that does not depend on age. There are 20-year-old players who have authority. It is part of their competitive genetics, and has to appear. New arrivals have to provide a step up in quality, and they have to help us to be a better team. You have to respect all of your opponents. Espanyol were recently promoted and they beat us. Cartagena have a good team and we cannot get overconfident. We have to work at 100% to win the game, because when you get overly confident, the opponents hit you. Cartagena are a great team, and we have to be prepared. We respect them and we know they have potential, players with experience and players like Rubén Castro -who has some great numbers. The path to follow is humility and working with the utmost interest. We only have one chance to be in the Round of 16, and it's tomorrow.

Jason left yesterday and Cristian Rivero and Alex Blanco are expected to leave. Is any move in an advanced stage?

Jason left for Alavés and arrangements are being made for the players you mentioned, because they have had little prominence in the team and we want them to be able to have that at other teams -because it is good for them and for us, so that other players can come in. There are advanced negotiations, but until they are final, anything can happen.

Will this be the first round of the cup in which we will see the Solers, Guedes, etc.?

We have to evaluate many things, from the minutes the players have had, the games they have played, and whether they are players who come back from an injury. Gayà has not competed for a long time and it is a risk to start him. I have to talk with him. We have to manage all of that, because it is very important. We are at a decisive moment in the season, and losing players to injury would be a very big setback.

Can those who don’t have that competitive gene, get it?

I think so. Some show it earlier and others take longer, but I think everyone has it. You have to show it, because the competition does not allow you to compete without it. We have to show it now, because football does not wait for anyone. It is necessary immediately, and we cannot wait. The demand has to be at its highest.

Can you confirm if Valencia CF have room in Financial Fair Play to make one or more signings?

I think so. Barcelona have a debt of 300 million, have signed Ferran Torres and are going to sign Morata, and the president has announced more signings, including Haaland. Where is the Financial Fair Play there? We also have to sign if we want to be a big club. Barcelona have signed Xavi as coach, and he has seen that he has to sign players.

Will Jaume remain as starting goalkeeper in the Copa del Rey?

I can’t reveal that. Jaume has played both games so far, and has a big chance to play again. He has enormous commitment and we have a lot of confidence in him.