Striker Rodrigo made no excuses for Valencia CF's Matchday 23 defeat, but believes that the team are capable of bouncing straight back next week against Atletico Madrid.

A tough defeat

"I think that it was a deserved defeat. We played badly and we weren't up to the standard of the game. Getafe played well and overcame us in practically every facet of play. There's not much more to say. There's still a fair way to go in the season. There is no suspicion of us not having the ability to overcome adversity, as something similar happened last year. We have to keep working and that's that."

The team's performance

"It's true that the team didn't play well. However, it's also true that we're not a team that can be accused of lacking attitude, interest or committment. It was a bad game today, there is still time in LaLiga and last year things looked difficult too: We were many points off and they were ahead of us for almost the entire season. Under no circumstances are we going to give up. I think that it's a good time for everybody to look at themselves and see what they can improve and what they didn't do well today. Football is all about 'today,' but I'm sure that we will be able to turn around our showing from today, like we did in previous years and in this same season."

His fitness

"I'm not at 100%. I'm playing with some discomfort in my knee, because I want to try to contribute and help the team. It's a tough year in terms of injuries, but in no way is this an excuse for the bad game we had today."

Atletico Madrid on Friday

"In football there is always the opportunity to win again. We have the experience of the defeat against RCD Mallorca, after which we picked ourselves up straight away and were able to beat FC Barcelona. The opinions today are going to be negative, but we know what we are, what we represent and the effort that we are making this season, amidst all of the adverse situations we have gone through. We have a great opportunity to reverse the image we provided today."