Gracia: "We will go for the win against Granada from the opening minute"

Valencia CF coach Javi Gracia talked about matters surrounding the team's LaLiga encounter with Granada CF in his pre-match press conference, held the day before the game.

Granada CF

“What gives us strength is that we have had success in recent games at home, and it is with that trend in place that we want to approach the coming games. We want to continue with that trend, and we are hoping to continue showing that strength. Granada are opponents who are having a great season and are competing very well in Europe. They have a very good squad and they already beat us in the first half of the season. They are a very balanced team and have a number of players who are not registered in Europe and who can be used to help the team out. We know that in the first game, despite doing quite a few things well in the first half, the game became tough for us. We have to compete at the highest level to achieve victory.”

Possible fatigue for Granada

“Their performance in all the matches they have played has not been greatly diminished by having any players missing. I think they have the resources to replace players well, because they have shown this in different competitions. The absences that we all have during a season are not something that has made it difficult for them to perform at a level that allows them to get good results. I don't know if the frequency of matches they have been having lately might affect them. They will come here with energy to play a game that will be hotly contested. Our goal is to put the game in our favour from the first minute onwards. If we have to turn things around in the final minutes, like in the last few games, we will do it that way, but our goal is to go for the game from the first minute.”

A possible use of three centre-backs

“It’s an alternative option, and has been since we played that way against Sevilla FC, Levante UD, in preseason. It has always been an alternative, bu tour choice is motivated by the situation the squad are in, and by the availability of players. We are always trying to choose the best formation for the job. In the future it will continue to be an alternative and we will try to choose the best way to go. It is a formation that is another option, we have worked on it and we have used it.”

Seeing out his contract with Valencia CF

“I'm honest. A colleague of yours already asked me this. We will see what will happen. My purpose -as it has always been- is to comply with the contract that I signed at the time. It will seem strange, but I said "of course" to your colleague's question. At another point I said "I will try to see it out" and qualified it, not wanting to say that I did not want to continue. I already explained it at the time and I do not have much more to say.”

The difference between home and away games

“We try not to have that difference, but we are seeing different showings in the matches. In the last match we competed better than in others away from home, but it didn't give us a good result either. We work to improve and that is what we are focusing on. We will try to do better and I am confident and sure that if we get a good result tomorrow, in the next game away from home it will be the opportunity to put two wins together. Hopefully there will be three wins or a positive streak through to the end of the season.”

The working dynamic

“I feel the same pressure regardless of the issues journalists bring up. I don't notice any difference. I understand that you talk about  the issues you consider opportune, but in my position what I do is focus on my work and try to best prepare the team".