Gattuso: “We’re a team and I’m the first to take responsibility”

Gennaro Gattuso analysed Valencia CF’s loss to RCD Mallorca on Matchday 11 of the LaLiga season.

What is Diakhaby’s injury?

Diakhaby has a muscle injury and tomorrow we will look at it. 

What happened in the second half?

The first person to take responsibility is me, because I wanted to win with the score at 1-1 and I put two forwards on the pitch. I think I put the team in a shape that wasn’t the best for them. I wanted to win it but we lost. We suffered. They had a lot of space and that's my fault. In the first 60 minutes, RCD Mallorca did not create anything for us.

But at the first difficulty, with the penalty, we gave away 14-15 very easy balls bringing it out. We have to improve this. It is difficult to speak about it because it was a game that we were controlling very well. In the first half, the pace may not have been very, very good, but before the penalty, only Valencia CF were playing. It is a difficult time. I feel sorry for the fans who have come to the stadium. We have to improve what has been happening in the last few games.

The team ended up exhausted. How are you going to fix this?

When we are level we have to improve all this. At the first difficulty, mentally we are going to have problems. I think it is not a physical problem. It is normal that when the fear of not winning arrives if you miss many passes, young players can freeze up as we did.

You justified the signing of Herrerín because of his experience. Do you think this experience would help avoid defeats like today?

It is very easy to talk about who plays and who does not play. If we put Mamardashvili up for debate, with all due respect to Iago, I am the one responsible. It is very easy to come here and talk about experience.

In the first 63 minutes, we didn't talk about experience. I know very well that this can happen and can continue to happen, but we have to keep working on it. It is easy to say that a kid is not good. We are a team and the first to take responsibility is me

How did you see the penalty? Nico couldn't believe it. Also, Valencia CF have conceded 8 goals in recent games, with 7 in the second half. How do you explain it?

I'll explain it to you as I've already said: At the first sign of difficulty the team have problems. There are four people in the VAR room and they have looked at it, so if they have decided it is a penalty, I suppose the decision is correct.

How are they going to isolate themselves from doubts?

We respect the history of the club and we have to respect the fans, but we are talking about a different age group, about many players who are 20, 21 years old. For the future, we have very good players. We have to continue, work and have confidence. When I was talking about 40 points, it's ok because we're a big club and we have great fans, but the reality is that we have to improve. It is unacceptable to lose a game in this way. I have the obligation to continue, to speak, to work, and to correct what has been killing us in recent months. That is the way forward.

Do you think the team were caught by surprise and didn’t know how to react?

After our penalty, the first time that RCD Mallorca came into our box was for a penalty. Afterwards, I wanted to win and the changes put the team in a position that was not the best. I think it was very easy to play against RCD Mallorca when that changed. We had a lot of passing lines. After the goal, we missed 14-15 balls and they equalised with a penalty, so it's normal for you to be afraid and you don't play calmly. The fans push you on and then what happened today happens.

Why did you opt for Cenk ahead of Cömert?

Cömert is injured and was not on the bench. The other option was Mosquera.

How do you rate Gayà's game and what does he mean for you in the team?

Gayà is a player who has played many games here. He is our captain. He has a lot of pride. He feels the weight of the shirt, he is a great player and I am very happy with him. Now it doesn't matter if he played well or badly. We're a team.

We saw the players sad after the game. What message do you give them to get out of the situation?

After a match, I don't like to talk in the dressing room. Things get better if we talk tomorrow. We’re very sad, but we have to not think too much about what happened today. We have to think about tomorrow, improve and work hard during the week. I think the way forward is this.

Today you are downcast. What are you worried about?

I'm worried because we didn’t win a game like that. Before the penalty, we had the game under control and at the first difficulty, the team lost ground and became a very long team, which I don't like. When this team plays very long then what happened in the last 30 minutes happens. It's not the worst game we’ve had, because the team were controlling it well. In the first half we played in Mallorca’s half with the speed of the ball not very fast, and we didn't risk anything. The worst game I think was against Rayo Vallecano.