Gracia: "The unity amongst the team is beyond all doubt"

A win against Real Valladolid on LaLiga Matchday 18 had Javi Gracia happy with the showing, and with the end of a tough run of results in league action.

An important victory

"What we achieved today helps us to break winless run that we were on, in which we had been close to winning and had taken a lot of draws and some losses. We'd not been able to get that victory for a while. We dominated the first half and the game was a little more even in the second half, and we had to fight to the end. It was a hard-fought victory, in a game that we could have killed off with a second goal but didn't. We got the three points that were neccesary for us -which the team knew."

Team unity producing results

"It was a good game. I am happier with the first half than the second, even though it was in the second half that we scored. I think that the first half was really good. We just needed better finishing. The win might have got away from us in the final minutes, but at some point we needed that little bit of good fortune. The unity amongst the team has always been present. It's normal for this to show more when you win, but the unity in the team is beyond all doubt."

Satisfaction with the work done

"The club have shown me their support since the last game. It is something I'm grateful for, because it is in moments of weakness that support like that is most appreciated. I'm happy, but not for me -I'm happy with the work done by the players, for the joy they have given to the fans, and the fact that the atmosphere is more positive. It's the satisfaction of a job well done."

Soler's performance

"I have never stopped seeing Carlos Soler's hard work. Day after day, he gets more accustomed with that position and makes it his own. Today he showed one of his virtues, which is shooting. The two pivots played well and allowed the team to have control of the game for many minutes."

Racic's effort

"I want to give praise to Soler and Racic, because they have not been playing consistently in the roles they occupied today, and little by little they are adapting better and better. In Racic's case, after the physical problems he has had, he deserves credit for the effort he has made to come back as soon as possible and help the team. He is not at 100% and I really value that, both from him and the rest of the team for their willingness to help."