Garay: "The wins against Sevilla and Real Madrid are the path to follow"

Ezequiel Garay talked to VCF Media this Tuesday, reflecting on the loss to Rayo Vallecano, looking ahead to Europa League action against Villarreal and touching on several other subjects.

The defeat at Vallecas
"We have to be realistic: We didn't have a good game and things didn't work out for us. Rayo did more to win, and got the victory. However, we have a game every three days or so, and on Thursday we face a very important fixture. It will be a very difficult European tie, but the team are motivated. We still have the chance to achieve our targets in all three competitions, and we know that this group of players always wants to win. We will fight to the end."

Team spirit
"When we win, we all win. When we lose, we all lose as well. We're a family. We've shown that we are a solid, compact team, both in defence and attack, and it's very difficult to beat us. We have to base our strategy on what we do well and be committed to the team; that way, nobody can beat us. We need to see that the games against Sevilla and Real Madrid -not against Rayo- are the path we need to follow."

An exciting future
"We are still in three competitions and we have a squad that gives their all, whoever plays. We are all important, whether we play 20 minutes or whether we play 90 minutes. That's what we have to do. We're a side that, if we believe in ourselves and play as we know how, are difficult to beat."

Playing like against Sevilla and Real Madrid
"We shouldn't think that Villarreal will be focused on LaLiga and aren't going to be concerned about Thursday. That would be a mistake. We have to play like we did against Sevilla and Real Madrid. If we do that, we will get a good result. We're going to fight to the end: In LaLiga to get a Champions League spot, in the Europa League to get to the final, and then -later on- to win the Copa del Rey final."

Keeping a clean sheet
"In this Europa League tie, the important thing is not to concede goals and to score away from home. Scoring would be good ahead of the return leg. We need to have great defensive solidity. If we keep a clean sheet, we know that at any time we can score. We're a very competitive side. Every game from here until the end of the season is difficult, and they will be decided by moments."

A third attempt at a European trophy
"I've got to two Europa League finals, losing on both occasions. I hope that the third opportunity arises with Valencia CF, and I can finally win it. 'Third time lucky', as they say.