Gattuso: “We have to work hard, because we will go far playing like this”

Valencia CF coach Gennaro Gattuso spoke to the media to analyse the 0-1 loss at Mestalla to Atletico Madrid on Matchday 3.

How do you rate the game and the effort made by your team? Are any more surprises expected in the market?

It is difficult to talk about the game. We have played two games, in Bilbao and today, from which we have taken zero points, and that is not right, but I have told the team that we have to continue working, playing for 100 minutes with the same quality of play, passing and desire. The game lasts 95 minutes and we have to work hard because I think that playing like that we can go far. We can’t think that about bad luck or the referee. No, we have to play for 95 minutes. These are the best players for me and we have to continue. I only know one way, which is working hard. With our disallowed goal, if you go to VAR for that, then you always have to go to VAR. It shouldn’t be that a referee decides that it goes to VAR and another day it doesn’t. It was a foul, but sometimes he decides to check and sometimes not. It isn’t ok. The rules are the rules. As for the transfer market, we're waiting on Tottenham over Bryan Gil and then it’s over.

What is missing from the team? A little forcefulness perhaps?

To win games you have to score goals. When you have 55% of the possession in the final meters, you have to score a goal. Now we are lacking this. We have to play better in the final metres.

Did you say anything to the referee about the disparity with the VAR? And what can Cavani bring you?

I think my coaching staff and medical staff have to work well because he is a player who has only trained alone for the last three months. We have to coach him well. He has come to help, but we have to help him with his play and organisation. As for the referee, I saw that it was a foul. But what I don't understand is that he either lets it go or doesn’t. Due to my character, I prefer not to talk about the referee. The rules are the rules.

How did you see Thierry? Are you worried about the final stretch of the game, when it seemed that they didn’t have the fitness?

We have to play for 90 minutes because the game doesn't end at 75 minutes. The team ran a lot and they always pressed high. It is not easy. When you press high up, it's normal for you to get tired. We need to improve and play with the same mentality for 95 minutes. Thierry has been in pain for a week. He can make mistakes. Hugo also can make mistakes, like the goal we conceded against Athletic. We can and should work better.

What can you tell us about Maxi Gómez’ situation?

I don't know anything right now. Let's see what happens in the market.

With the arrival of Cavani and with Bryan Gil, can Valencia CF fans be more optimistic about the team's objectives?

We have no objectives. I like the fans to leave happy because we’ve won games. We do not have an objective; we just want to play a type of game, with a certain mentality, because we have a responsibility at this club. We have the first step, which is the quality of our play. Now we have to improve the mentality. We cannot be happy about having played well. When you lose you lose and when you win you win. Now we have to work and continue on this path.

How was the atmosphere at Mestalla today?

I'm very happy. When an opposing side come here, it's not easy for them. Mestalla pushes a lot. 40,000 fans push a lot. It is the first time that I have played at 10:00 p.m. Having 40,000 people here on a Monday at 10 pm is incredible. That is why we have to continue so that the fans go home happy because we have won.

How do you work on that mental aspect?

As we are doing, but now we have to look at it. I was talking about the last 25 metres. When we have crosses, we have to go in strong for them. We have to shoot. Today there were four or five chances to shoot that we didn’t take.

Are you worried that Bryan Gil will not come, or are you calm?

The only people calm in my town are the dead.

Do you have a meeting with Layhoon and Corona about the transfer market? What idea do you have for the attack, about whether Maxi or Marcos André should leave?

Tomorrow after training, have a meeting at the Ciutat Deportiva and we'll talk about who has a chance to play or not. We are going to sign Bryan Gil and then we have to talk about departures. Now we have Hugo Duro's injury and we have to talk.

You gave Fran Pérez and Diego López debuts. Why them ahead of another player from the first team?

Who could play as a forward? Fran has been working with us for two months, he has speed and quality.

You said that you would be faithful to 4-3-3. Are you not going to change it even if you are losing?

In the final minutes, we played 3-5-2. We changed because I want not to lose and to score a goal. We didn’t finish with a 4-3-3, but rather a 3-5-2. Marcos André at the end had no strength left and I preferred to bring in a kid who had energy and quality.

Are you looking forward to the transfer window closing?

I said it already. I don't think it’s normal when a team playing the league and the market is still open. I think it should be closed when the season starts. Right now the English teams play a different sport to the other leagues. It’s not easy.