Gattuso's men: Luigi Riccio, assistant coach

Luigi Riccio, Valencia CF's assistant coach, talks to VCF MEDIA about the work that is being carried out ahead of the team's return to action as running the rule over the first term of the season.

LaLiga break

"It's a strange situation for every team in the world, but it could be an opportunity. Preparing a LaLiga game is very difficult, and throughout the season we are always focused on preparing for games and improving," he said as the team get back into their established routine.

"In this second preseason we maybe have the time to correct things and work on details, which we wouldn't have the opportunity to do in January or February because of the amount of games that we will play. This time could be important for us to be in top form at the end of the season."

Valencia CF players at the World Cup

The way that the players who were at the World Cup come back is important. Their feelings and mentality could change. If they had a good World Cup, they might be a little more tired but with a happiness that helps the rest of the team as well.

Team's personality

The coach's first objective is to play games with courage, with a courageous mentality, with the illusion of always creating numerical superiority up top constantly pressing. When you play a style of football like that, there are moments in the game where you can take risks. Communication is very important in this case because it happens in a match in which we have to carefully assess the moment of the match, the moment of the rival, the moment of fatigue that we have”.

The players' response

"The will from the players has been wonderful. They are willing to work, professional and mature. The team train well and are serious. We have players who want to take another step up together at a high level. They need time and to go step-by-step, but they are always willing and that's incredible.This team train with desire every day. They want to learn. That's great for us."

Gattuso on a daily basis

Gattuso is very intense, very demanding, very serious, very professional. He loves his job very much, he loves coaching a historic club like this, he really likes the atmosphere at Mestalla. He is always very intense and prepared for this job.”

A team beyond the players

“The coach believes a lot in a team that is made up not only of the players, but also of everyone who works at the Ciutat Esportiva. As well as the kit men, the medical staff, everyone. For the coach, the team is made up of everyone and he believes a lot in this. It has been a great experience for us because it is a very difficult league, but very beautiful”