Mustafi: "Valencia CF have quality and not many teams have won at Mestalla this year"

Former Valencia CF player Shkodran Mustafi returns to Mestalla for the first time since his signing for Arsenal, and he talked to the media ahead of the UEFA Europa League semifinal second leg to give his opinions on the club and the important match.

Wary of Mestalla
"The first game went very well for us at home; winning 3-1 is a good result, but I know what Mestalla is like and I know that every team that comes here has to be very careful, because Mestalla boosts the team a lot. Valencia CF have a side with quality and not many teams have won at Mestalla this season. We have to be very careful. The game starts 0-0 and we have to do what we did at home, playing our way."

"It was very special to play against Valencia CF at home, and returning to Mestalla is something that is very special for me."

The stadium
"It's going to be difficult, because Mestalla is a stadium that pushes the team on. But I want to be very focused and doing my job comes first. I know that I'm going to enjoy myself almost as much as a Valencia CF player, because I like these kinds of stadiums where the fans are always singing. It's something very beautiful. I think that I'm going to enjoy it, but doing my job comes first. I need to be very focused, because it's going to be a very difficult game. Enjoying it comes after that."

Valencia CF's season
"I think that Valencia CF have had a good year. They've had many draws, but they are still there fighting to get into the Champions League. That's what the club deserve, because they are a big club with great history and great players and fans. I hope that they get to the Champions League -but not because they beat us in the Europa League. I hope that finish inside the Top 4 in LaLiga."

Memories of Valencia
"I love the city. It isn't very big, but you have everything you need and more. There's the sea, the beach, and it's a beautiful city. The fans got behind me as well. Playing for Valencia CF means you have a lot of pressure, because it's a very big club with a lot of history, so it isn't easy. The fans want Valencia CF to always win, but above all my first year was really good. I have good memories of here."