Soler: "The fans were the player we were missing on the pitch"

Carlos Soler was the scorer of the only goal for Valencia CF in their 1-0 win over Getafe, and the penalty converter gave his thoughts to VCF Media after the final whistle.

A team effort

"There is a lot of effort behind this win, both from me and the team. I came back here from a 14-hour trip, and from spending a long time in hotel after hotel without being able to leave. Being here is a gift and getting these three points is the most important thing for the group and for the fans. We felt the fans' presence a lot, especially after us having gone a man down. The fans were the player we were missing on the pitch."

Encouraging Hugo Guillamón

"It was not the game we wanted, because going a man down in the third minute is not the best situation, but we are happy. Hugo is not at fault. I don't know if it was a red, but the coach asks us to be intense. He needs to be calm about it, because you learn from these things. It happened to me. These are things that happen in football and you learn from them. When he left the pitch I told him that we were going to win for him, and we achieved that."

His first game with the number 10 shirt
"I will keep the shirt at home and keep it as a souvenir forever. I have always liked the number and it is an honour to wear it for Valencia CF."

The silver medal

"I was tricked a little. The club had told me that Rangel was going to give it to me. I didn't expect my parents to be out on the pitch. I am happy to receive the silver medal and share it with the fans, because it also belongs to them."

Winning when down to ten men

"We would have preferred to have played eleven against eleven. But you saw a united team out there, and also our unity with the fans. Winning is very difficult for everyone. After Hugo's sending off we had to stick together and convert a chance. We got the penalty. Then I had a chance that I struck with my left foot. We played very well. The important thing was to win and to see ourselves as LaLiga leaders today."