Gattuso: “I liked the way that the team played, despite the defeat”

Valencia CF coach Gennaro Gattuso talked to the media in the press room at San Mamés after the team's defeat against Athletic Club, on Matchday 2 of the LaLiga season. The Italian noted the difficulty of the encounter, which Valencia CF came close to levelling, and praised the performance of the players.

What is your assessment of the game? Did you like what you saw from the team?

It is not at all easy to play at a stadium like San Mamés. I want to congratulate the San Mamés crowd: It's the first time I've come here, I never had the opportunity to visit here during my time as a player and it's a stadium with an atmosphere that you feel a lot. It's not easy to play here, but I really liked the way the team played -despite the defeat. This was a game that we prepared very well. We knew that they have very fast players, who play on the counterattack and, whilst it is true that at times we had difficulties, I really liked the way that we played.