VCF Media went 'in depth' with José Luis Gayà on the eve of the 2020/21 LaLiga season, chatting with one of the club's captains about the campaign ahead and what it means to have the responsibility of wearing the armband. The VCF Academy product is a player in search of constant progress and challenges, and is ready to make the coming season one to remember.

Captaining the side

"From a young age you always think about being able to play for the first team, and you never imagine that you will reach the point in which you are captain. It’s enormously exciting, but I don’t like to refer to just myself when I talk about captains: We have three captains now, with Jaume and Kondogbia. We’re three people who always try to help, and we try to set an example -which is what being a captain is all about at the end of the day. You have to set an example and try to make sure that the team are united as one. That is our objective."

Representing the club

"When I put on the shirt and go out for any game -be it a friendly, the Champions League, LaLiga or whatever-, it means representing a series of values that I’ve always been taught here: To fight, to keep pushing and to never give up on any ball. Your passing accuracy can vary, but your attitude can never be lacking. That’s what we have to try to transmit to the entire team. The most important thing is running and battling for every ball. That’s how you achieve great success."

Continuing to grow

"I’ve been here a long time. I’ve been through many different situations at this club -both good and not so good, and even bad situations. I’m very calm. I’ve got a lot of experience and have played many games, and I feel good. I’m keen to continue growing, because I still have many things to improve. But it’s true that now I have a lot of confidence, and this could be one of my best times."

The derby

"It’s going to be a special game, like every derby. It isn’t the same without the fans, that’s true, but when the game starts and you’re on the pitch you forget about everything else. You are only thinking about winning -especially in a derby.

"We are working very well during preseason and we feel very good. The important thing is what is coming up, and we have to face it with the highest motivation possible."

Home form

"It’s always been hard to beat us at Mestalla. Athletic Club beat us after we went a long time without losing at home in LaLiga. Mestalla is always going to be a difficult ground to come to, and that’s what we have to keep up. We have to win at home, then improve our away form from last year -which was pretty bad."

The new coach and uniting the team

"The coach is very involved. He has practically everybody motivated, and that’s important. There have been five changes, and many players are going to have to be used. We have to be united and there can’t be any player who isn’t focused on the pitch."

"We shouldn’t set out any other objective, because it doesn’t benefit us to do so. We have to be ambitious, and I think that the best way to do that is going into every game looking to win. There is no other way. We have to be a team who try to win every game: We can win, lose or draw, but we need to give a good showing for the fans."