Javi Gracia: “We will be ambitious to try to beat Real Madrid”

Javi Gracia held a press conference on Saturday afternoon to brief the media on the game against Real Madrid, which rounds off the latest LaLiga matchday. The Valencia CF coach believes that the game is a chance to show what they can do.

An important match

Whenever you haven’t had a win in several games, the next game is an opportunity. The opposition doesn’t matter: it is an opportunity for us. We are aware of the demands of the game, but we come into this won with what -in my point of view- are worse results than we deserve from some games. I see a very good attitude from everyone, and I want to thank the ambassadors for what they contributed this week when with the players. We appreciate it and we are trying to generate that positive atmosphere and unity, attempting to keep that good feeling going -and to accompany it with good results, if possible.

A ‘new’ Valencia CF

This week we have the base for the players that we are going to have, one hundred percent certain. In recent weeks we have had some uncertainty. It is a good foundation, but for me the season started from day one, and we have worked a lot since preseason and tried many variables, with many situations and difficulties. We have tried to reflect that work.

How to hurt Real Madrid

Real Madrid play a lot of games. In my opinion it isn’t easy to have a schedule with European competitions, which is very packed and needs rotation. It is very difficult to keep at the same level in every game. They have dropped points, and we will try to analyse why and see how, with defensive order and using our virtues in attack, we can hurt them with possession, counterattacks and set pieces. We are going to have the mentality of being ambitious to try to win against Real Madrid.

Improving the defence

We have to improve defensively, and logically we are working to improve both in defence and attack. This week we have continued working, orientating our work towards what we are going to find in this match, which is against a very high scoring side. Real Madrid’s strengths are what they are, and we have prepared the players for this.

Yunus Musah

Yunus Musah is being given stability and continuity, and this is the result of his work and the performance he has brung to the team. Continuity will not only depend on the idea I have about him, but on his work and that of others. We have a squad with many young players, and we have to understand the process. Yunus scored last week, and we must demand that consistency from him, but we have to understand that many of our players are young and that youth has been associated with inconsistency.

Right back in the absence of Thierry Correia

We don’t have many options at right back, above all in terms of players specific to that position. Obviously, as you will understand, even though there are few choices I prefer to keep the opposition guessing until the last minute.

Kondogbia’s departure and the winter transfer market

I understand the interest in that, but I don’t want to talk about the matter again. I don’t think it is good for me or for the team to talk about players who aren’t here anymore. I don’t want to waste a second talking about players we don’t have, and would rather speak about those that we do have for the next game. Talking about the winter transfer window is unthinkable right now, because my job is to get the best performance from what I have. I want the fewest distractions possible. I have to focus on my team and get a good performance from them.