Baraja: “This result has to hurt us a lot and wake us up”

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja, spoke in a press conference after the defeat against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena.

The match

“We have to go home very hurt, because it really was largely down to our failings that it was such a resounding result. Above all, in the final part of the match when we were 1-0 down, we had the chance that from any action we could equalise, and we made two very big mistakes that allowed La Real to make it 3-0 -which for me is a very comprehensive scoreline and too much for what we saw in the match. Football has this thing where, when you make a mistake against a team of this level, you concede to make it 2-0 and 3-0. It has to hurt us a lot, but above all, wake us up. We've had enough of this type of situation. If we want to change the dynamic, if we want to come here and compete in a different way, we have to wake up and have another ambition and mentality. The players, along with me, have to take a step forward and change things.”

The dynamic

“People have to be angry, just like I am. Absolutely rightly so, because in the end all our fans who sit down to watch us on TV or those who have come here to watch the game, do so with the hope of seeing their team compete and of seeing a team that really gives importance to points and games. They turn on the TV and see that from the first action the team didn't do the things that we worked on during the week. The game comes around, we do something different and it costs us a goal. If you are a fan -and I am also a Valencia CF fan- then it is irritating. It irritates me and I understand that the fans might be angry. Without a doubt, we are also angry. I, as the person in charge, and the players, should be angry. This defeat must hurt because we have to wake up. The numbers are not a coincidence, beyond the fact that we can use the excuse of the opposition, of the team being away from home… This is of no use to me and we have to wake up in general, all of us.”

Errors

“Football is a game of errors and when you make many more mistakes than we were making last season, against teams with quality and precision, they cost you dearly. We work on them, we look at them and then we don't pay attention… That is why I say that we have to wake up. We need to feel that we are at a very big club and when a mistake is made it has to have consequences in terms of responsibility. We are a young team, and I understand that, of course, I will defend and support the players… but when you are in this situation, these types of errors cannot be tolerated. We have to accept it is down to us and be critical. They also have to understand that these things that happen have to make us change our thinking. If we do not stop making these mistakes it is very difficult to win.”

Upcoming matches

“We will take it game by game. We will analyse this match. You see this result and it makes you very angry because the feeling I had was that, despite it being 1-0, the team tried to be there, we were in the match, and just when we had our chances to equalise we were not able to do so. Then they hit us with those two counterattacks. We have to keep working, we have important matches, but it is incumbent on me to convey to the dressing room that we have to approach these types of matches in a different way. 

The final part of the game leaves me very upset, because we did not know how to manage those minutes. It has to help us to learn and, above all, to wake up. That is the most important message. We need to get points and have a different feeling away from home.”

Relegation

“At this moment the table is anecdotal; we are not going down next week. There is still time ahead, but we are in a situation where after 8 matches we are down there and have to improve things. This is the mentality we have to have. I am busy trying to find ways to get out of this situation. There is still a lot to do and I am clear that by doing certain things you have to take them into the game and try to believe that you can get points and compete anywhere. If we do not achieve this, it will be more difficult, but we believe and trust in the team that we can get out of this situation and improve. We have to be self-critical and push on to improve. It must hurt us a lot."