Squad fitness

Justin Kluivert, Nico, Jaume Domènech and Thierry are not available for tomorrow's
match.

Returning to the dugout

Unfortunately, it is not a new situation. I assume it with the usual responsibility. It
requires work and the responsibility that comes with this position of being Valencia CF
coach, to improve the situation and for the team to get out of the positions that are
dangerous as soon as possible.

The change of coach

Every situation is linked to performance. Above all, after the World Cup the team have
been close to achieving good results, but things have gone the other way. We have
competed well in some games, but the results are what they are and they have gone
down, so a situation arose that the club have explained and that is no longer
important.

The club tell me that they believe in me to be able to turn the situation around, and as
always I step forward with responsibility, knowing that we have time to work and
improve. I know that the team can compete well to achieve the results to climb up the
table.

The club’s model

I don’t know the details of the changes that have occurred in recent years in depth. From my position at the club, those decisions will all have their reasons for being taken. I am here to help the club at any given time. It is not my task or responsibility to assess what other people think or want to do.

Last season there were many signings in the summer. This summer a coach arrived and there were also new incorporations that fit a certain profile. It hasn't quite worked and that's why we're here.

The club did make transfers last year, and I understand that they were with the consent of the coach. They either worked out only ok or didn't work out well. This year that was the case too, and the team during a phase of the season played attractive football -different from last year- which at times has given us results, but lately, that has not been the case.

Instructions to players

In my experience in these situations, in this case, there is no division of the dressing
room being against a coach. This helps a lot because there is nothing to repair. But it's
true that we've had two training sessions, and I've been watching the previous games.
I have told the players that we need their effort and commitment in the situation that
the club are in, and that with the coaching staff, we are going to give them the right
tools to improve.

Seeing that they compete well in training and that there is no breakdown in the
dressing room, I have no doubt that there will be enough commitment to reverse the
situation.

Responsibility

This is a very big responsibility for me. If the club think I can contribute something, I don't doubt taking on the task. I am who I am. Now I’m going to sleep less. It is an issue that I have to face and I will face it.

I’m not a typical coach who comes here looking beyond my time at the club. When this is over I will return to my role. I know that I am here to help the club for as long as they need me. I know where I am and my concern is that we are competitive, that the team perform, and that as soon as possible we get the necessary points. It will not be easy. It’s not a case of “Voro comes in and suddenly we win.” Little by little, we are going to try to help the players. They should not be put in the spotlight, but it is very important that they feel confident. We are going to give them the appropriate guidelines so that they know when, how and why, with what intensity and with what objective.

I have been in the dugout in difficult situations. In my first year as a player, the team went down to the Segunda Division. The players must be convinced. It is a matter of taking a step forward.

Coaching until the end of the season

The club have confirmed to me that I will be here until the end of the season. What makes me optimistic is that there are many games left and the team and the coaching staff have to take a step forward. With that, we will overcome the situation. There are many teams close to relegation. There is no fear. There are 20 games left and we are going to fight.

If the club think they need my help, then here I am, be it for 6 games, 12 or until the end of the season. But I understand that if the result isn’t there, someone else will have to come in. That happens at every club, we all already know that. Two years ago it was 4 games, the other 6. And they were also extreme situations against teams that were later relegated. Then there were the empty stands without the support of the fans. I suffered a lot, but that’s part of the job.

A young squad

The word young seems somewhat pejorative, but it also has very good connotations: They are more receptive to the message, they are professionals and they give you other things. Being young is not a negative thing. They are young, but they have a high level, so it is not something that worries me.

The playing style

The team have done good things so far, and we're going to build on that good work. From there, the goal is for the team to be more consistent defensively, and for us to be able to keep clean sheets. We are a team that score goals but also concede. We have to improve in that regard, which is necessary for the team to grow.

A small squad

I don't consider it to be a small squad. We are going to have players like Nico and Thierry back. The squad have two or more players per position. And there are players who can play multiple positions. It does not worry me.

The coaching staff

We are evaluating different options for people to help us, because Gattuso had 8 people on his coaching staff, and the club have allowed me to find the right people who can help us and improve in that area.

 The relationship with Peter Lim and Corona

I have greeted him when we have met, and that's it. But I don't think it's necessary to talk to Peter Lim. I talk to Layhoon, which is the same thing.

Not signing players is a decision made by the Sports Management. Until recently I had another function and until Monday evening I did not have this role. I was told that Corona had looked at options, but that they could not be specified.

The fans

I am not the one who has to make an assessment of things that are not strictly sporting. I didn't know about the protests from the fans yesterday because I haven't had time to see or read anything -because my life has changed and now I'm very focused on the team. It is not the Valencia CF coach who has just arrived who has to give an opinion on these issues.

Ready to compete

The most important thing is to know what we have. At times this season we have played very good football and we have to take advantage of that. We have to find a balance so that the team are competitive. We have gone from playing the ball all the time, to not playing the ball due to anxiety.

We have to find a balance through which the team can feel comfortable and can compete with the maximum guarantees of getting points. If there was another way that would make it easier for us to get points, we would do it.

We have to make the most of the good things and improve the others, which doesn’t mean that they have been so bad because we have been in matches that could have gone either way on many occasions. The team have always been in it, and away from home we haven't lost by more than a single goal. These are small details and in football, they are very important. I tell the players that. You have to give that extra boost to get closer to winning games.

The match against Real Madrid CF

We have a very difficult game, but also an attractive one that every footballer wants to play in. We competed very well in the Supercopa against them. We know how difficult it is to play them away from home, but we have all the enthusiasm in the world to compete and make it difficult for them. We know where we are, but these are games that everybody wants to be in and they want to take a step forward. We have to take advantage of that and go there with full enthusiasm and confidence to compete.

The fans

I have total respect for the fans, of whom we cannot ask for anything more. What is clear to me, as has happened at other times, is that in times of difficulty, the fans will be behind the team. But I respect their decision.

Every time I've been here and the team has needed their support, the fans have always been there. I especially remember the first time in 2007/08, with 5 games to go, when we were 1 point from relegation and we played at home against Osasuna and Real Zaragoza. The fans helped us and were by the side of the team and it was a boost.

That was a team with Villa, Silva, Mata, Joaquín, Marchena, Baraja, Albelda, Angulo, Vicente… It was a great team, but football is sometimes difficult and there is not always a rule of thumb that if you spend X, you will be up there at the top. Sometimes football takes you to situations that are difficult to understand. The fans knew what to do at that time, and now I'm sure they will be by the side of the team to support us.

I can't ask for anything, but it's true that there was frustration against Athletic Club, with the excitement that the fans had about reaching the semifinals. It was logical for them to show their discontent, something that affects the team and was seen in the anxiety and nervousness that there was in that game.

We are aware that we are going to have to fight, and I hope that the fans are with the team, because it gives us a boost at home. We want to start being a team that at home have more of a chance of getting the points.

Excitement

The responsibility that comes with being a coach in an extreme situation affects me as a person and I try to handle it as well as possible. I am a responsible employee at the club, and when they tell me I can help, I have even more responsibility. It's not a matter of whether I like it or not. I don't think about it anymore. If the club believe that I can contribute, I have to step forward. They don't put a gun to my head. If the club think that I can contribute, I'm here.