Valencia CF caretaker coach Voro González gave his reflections on the game against Leganés in his post-match press conference.

Facing the game like a final

“We treated the game with the importance that the points had. We knew that the points were fundamental here. The team definitely knew of this importance. In the first half things were even, but we were affected a lot by the penalty from an isolated move. That worked in their favour, because they could sit back and not make any mistakes at the back, playing long balls. After their goal we, a team in the emotional situation we are in, with the demands we have to win the game, and everything that the team have behind them at the end of the season, were overcome by our rushing and our anxiety. We weren't playing well.

“In the second half we played better. After the sending off we began to dominate things. The penalty was a big moment for us to get back into the game, and in the end we didn't put it away. That domination didn't convert into goals, and we tried every way we could: From the left, from the right, from outside the box...and we didn't finish any of those chances. Playing against the clock, in a game in which they had got the goal that they were looking for, hindered us a lot. We leave here very disappointed, because we knew the importance of the three points for us continuing on the path to playing in Europe next season.”

Disappointment with the result

“I’m disappointed in the same way  that we all are, because this was a fundamental game. In all of these situations, the morale factor is fundamental, and we have to try to allow it to affect us as little as possible. I saw anxiety, a lack of confidence and a lot off lost balls -which, along with out morale, were big factors. We pushed in the second half, but it wasn’t to be.”

A message to the fans

“We are also very disappointed that our objective of European football has now become very difficult for us, but we will continue to push. For these six games that I am here, we have to handle everything: The mental and the sporting aspects. Within the ups and downs of this short period of time there has been everything: Games in which we gone ahead, others in which we have gone behind… Today, for example, I think the team -especially after the goal, weren’t precise on the ball. That was where you could see that footballers are human. They know the importance and the requirement that Valencia CF have to be in Europe.

“These are factors that, when you go behind against a team that feel comfortable, hinder you. The fact that the minutes go by without a reward at the end meant rushing and mistakes. The opposition defended with everybody back and a lot of players packing the middle. We are disappointed, but we will try to take the remaining six points and see if it gives us a spot in Europe based on the results for the other teams. We can't think about this game anymore; we should think about the next one because the team are obliged to win.”