Gattuso: “We have to always play at 200% with courage and heart”

Gennaro Gattuso spoke in a press conference ahead of Valencia CF’s away game against Sevilla FC, on Matchday 10 of the LaLiga season.

Will Guillamón be one hundred percent fit for tomorrow's match?

Yesterday he trained with the players who had not had minutes in the game. Today he will also train and we will see if he is one hundred percent fit.

The interest from two European teams in signing Lato has been made public. Do you know if there is an interest in him renewing?

You know what I think of Toni. We have three players in that position and the club know what I think. It's a problem for the club, not my problem. I am very happy with how he is training. Nothing has changed for me. If he continues to train like this, the club have to decide. The club already know what I think about Toni.

Is tomorrow's game the most complicated due to the opponents and their change of coach?

In LaLiga, all the games are difficult. Sevilla are a team with high-quality players, and have a very difficult stadium to play at. In LaLiga you always have to respect your opponents. We always have to play at 200%. We can't play well in just one half. We have to have a strong mentality, courage and heart. Every game is tough. I have a lot of respect for Sevilla FC.

Do you consider Sevilla FC to be direct rivals?

If you look at their squad and their last ten years, they are on another level. They have won four or five Europa Leagues in the last ten years. They have a great mentality, a great squad, they have changed their coach and they are trying a different style. We have to go to Seville to play with great personality, otherwise it will be a very tough match.

Do you know if Lato has been offered a renewal?

We have a Sporting Director. I can't talk about renewals. The club know what I think. Talk to the Sporting Director. The club know what I think of the squad, I can't always answer about renewals. I like to work on the pitch, prepare for the game and if we lose it's my responsibility.

You have said that you aren’t thinking about rotations. Looking at Sevilla FC and after seeing tired players against Elche CF, can we expect many changes?

I give priority to the analytics that I am going to look at with my team and the medical staff. Whoever is one hundred percent fit is going to play and whoever isn't won't be a starter.

Could tomorrow be a key match to find out the aspirations and the true level of Valencia CF?

I’m clear about the level of my team. We are at a good level. We have to continue with what we have been doing. The second half against Elche CF was not a question of mentality, it was a question of positioning. We have to continue with what we do in training. The problem is this. We don't have to beat Sevilla FC to believe that the team are ok, we have to continue in the same way.

How is Cavani’s ankle problem?

Yesterday he was better. Today we'll see. He is going to start preparing for the game with us.

In the six games in which the opponents have taken the lead, Valencia CF have not managed to win. Why is it so hard for you to fight back?

We came back against Elche CF. When a team shoots three times and scores three goals, it's a strange occurrence. I don't think there is a mentality problem. Against Elche CF I liked how we scored two goals after conceding one. In the second half we played a totally different game.

Do you think the team feel it when a starter is missing? Do you see a difference between the A team and B team?

We don't have an A or B team. All players are at the same level.

What kind of match do you expect tomorrow?

In recent games they have played without a striker, with three number 10s. They like to play with the ball. They change style during the match. It will be a tough match. We have to close the passing lanes well.

How do you think a tough stadium to visit can affect such a young team?

I think it can be improved at the Ciudad Deportiva, watching videos, working on the pitch. We have to do this. We can’t think that we are going to Seville to play with a different style, only to defend. We have to continue with what we have been doing, because we are doing good things.

Mamardashvili conceded a penalty against Elche CF. Have you spoken with him?

I have spoken with him. He told me he's sorry and that it hurt him. He doesn't have to feel bad. He has the utmost trust from me and the whole team.

The team’s performance drops in second halves. Is it a physical or mental problem?

I think it is not a physical detail. We talk about danger, about passes... The problem is how the style of play changes. When in the first half you always have the solution, with a breakaway run, and in the second half you don't do that, missing 10% of passes... It's not a physical problem. If you have to run 75 meters, change. It is not a physical problem but a question of continuity in the game.

Are there some players who would start even if the metrics are not ideal?

The priority is not to injure players. I have to find out if everyone is okay and then I'll decide who starts and who doesn't.