Baraja: “The equality in the match defined the result"

Valencia CF coach, Rubén Baraja, gave a press conference after the 0-0 draw away against CD Leganés in LALIGA EA SPORTS.

The fans
“I understand that, in the end, logically, they can protest, and I respecttheir protests. They have been encouraging us throughout the game and we thankthem for coming. They were supporting us throughout the game and we absolutelyrespect our fans, because they are fundamental and very important to us. It isa shame that we weren't able, in the situations we had, to score a goal, butthe team gave what they had, showed energy and competed. We thank the fans forcoming. They should continue to believe in us and trust us.”

The team's reaction
“If you come off 4 games, 0 points, 4 defeats, 10 goals conceded and 1 scored,then getting points here is a starting point, and came with a clean sheet. Wewould have liked to take the three points, but getting points is alwayspositive. When you come from a difficult situation, I think that the reactionand attitude of the players was appropriate for the game and the equality inthe match defined the result.”

The match
“The team, at times, had control of the game. Leganés, in the first half, didnot create much for us and we had some counterattacks where we did not choosewell. In the second half, Leganés took a step forward in terms of doing morepressing, and we had a couple of actions in which we could have scored. Thefeeling I had was that the team made a big effort, believed in what we hadplanned, and I had the feeling of a certain solidity and control of the match.”

A starting point
“When we talk about objectives, logically, I think we say things because wethink what could happen when in this situation at this moment. I understand,perfectly, the frustration that the fans may feel, and I share it. I would liketo have 5 more points and be in a different position, but you have to be ananalyst of the situation, which is a situation of maximum difficulty, in whichwe haven't been getting points, in which we've been beaten, and today we wouldhave liked to win, but everything has its process. Between not getting pointsand getting them, plus keeping a clean sheet, you have to extract the positive.I try to always look at the glass as half full.”

The formation
“We thought that we had to intervene and find the resources for the team torecover that solidity we want, to recover the feeling of being in the games, ofhaving chances. We tried with that 4-5-1 to be more consistent when we don'thave the ball, and then when we have the ball try to get it out well andcombine to go forward. This has to help us to be more versatile and to look forperformance and points, because that is what we need.”

Canós and Almeida's positions
“Sergi is a player who can give you a good pass from inside, who can get intoshooting range. He worked well and played 60 minutes. He had gone a whilewithout starting. André, playing in a line of five, can give you consistency,play forward, and when he has the ball things happen. The team had balance andthen Enzo coming on also gave us stability. The team tried to leave everythingwe had out there."

Confidence in Baraja
“I am calm in myself. I am absolutely at peace. I am trying my best and I thinkthat we can change this situation. I have no doubts about this. I have thementality of thinking that, through hard work, keeping going, pushing, andmaking the players believe that we are capable of competing well, we can scorepoints. I am focused on this.”

The attack
“You always want to score goals, get forward and have chances. You also have toanalyse the moment you are in. These are difficult situations and you have togo step by step. We have to learn to live with these types of situations.”