Baraja: "Mestalla gives us a lot and makes us reach our best performance"

Valencia CF coach Rubén Baraja held a press conference prior to the game against Rayo Vallecano on LaLiga Matchday 16.

THE DATE FOR THE GAME AGAINST REAL MADRID

“The issue of the game against Real Madrid match does not depend on us. We have a postponed match and we have to find a date to play it. That date has been decided and I hope that an agreement is reached so that the match time can be set. 

At some point, we will have to play it. Real Madrid have a very busy calendar and the dates available are what they are. I hope that it is established, for the sake of our planning and for us to be able to organise ourselves. 

Tomorrow we have a match against Rayo Vallecano and you are asking me about Real Madrid. The situation we have is that there is a match to play, and those who have to decide when it is, will have to decide. 

We will have to adapt to what they tell us. Do not talk about Real Madrid when we play against Rayo tomorrow. The most important thing for us is tomorrow's match against Rayo Vallecano.”

CAUFRIEZ AND PEPELU'S CONDITION

“Caufriez is cutting it a little fine because his return is taking longer than we expected and he has not been able to train normally until today. He will not be on the squad list. And Pepelu is fine, with no problem.”

JAMES RODRIGUEZ

“James is an exceptional player. His career speaks for itself and he is technically fantastic. He is not participating now, but he is a player to be aware of, with great technical quality, a good final pass and a great shot. Obviously, the Rayo Vallecano coach will have his reasons for deciding who plays or not, just as I decide based on taste or performance. We will have to be attentive if he plays, because he is an important player with a lot of quality.”

AN IMPORTANT MATCH

“It is the most important match because it is the one we play tomorrow. Also, we are playing at Mestalla. We have a great need to get points, to get victories, to try to make the work we are doing give us the results we want. That is how we are going to approach this one. I am looking forward to trying to do everything I can so that the players are prepared for the match we are going to face tomorrow, and try to do well.”

VERY INTENSE OPPOSITION

“We have seen Rayo Vallecano and they are a very aggressive and intense team, possibly one of the teams with the best high-intensity numbers in LaLiga. They are powerful when going back and forth, and when working collectively. It is going to be a very tough match in every sense, both physically and mentally. We are going to face one of the most intense, pressing teams in LaLiga. They have not achieved the results, but they are a team with identity and that will lead us to have to be at a high level to be able to win tomorrow.”

RAFA MIR

“He is fine. He's happy to be able to play again, to participate and be with his teammates, and has the hope of being able to recover his fitness to be able to contribute to the team.”

MESTALLA

“The players know that we are in an important moment of the season. We know that these four games before the end of the year are important for the future of the standings. They look focused and mentally prepared, knowing that tomorrow's game is important and we're going to play at Mestalla. I insist on this because Mestalla gives us a lot and makes us reach our best level of performance. The games in which we have been at our best this season have been at Mestalla, regardless of the results, and we need to get points. The players see tomorrow's game as important in order to get the win and continue thinking about improving."

FINETUNING KEY DETAILS

"I'm focused on tomorrow's game against Rayo Vallecano and then the rest will come. We're worried about our own game, trying to improve those things that make the difference in games, those details and moments. We're working on that. We're trying to improve so that we can have a good game tomorrow. That's what can lead us to taking the three points."

EFFECTIVENESS IN THE AREAS

“I could give several facts that, even if the results don't support them, are there to see. We are one of the teams that receive the fewest shots, so we are not defending as badly as the results say. Logically, if they shoot few times and they score, it's a shame. But, it's the moment we are in now. You are penalised by those types of situations. 

We are a team that gets into the area quite a lot, but it has been difficult to finish the chances we have, except for the Betis game where we were more successful than usual. When you have those two situations in which you don't manage to achieve consistency in one area or another, you become immersed in the situation we are in. But, I think that if we manage to maintain the intensity, the energy, the feeling that the team have without the ball, if we manage to prevent the opponents from getting too far forward, we will have more chances in games. And if we then have clarity and finesse in the final metres, everything can be different. I am holding on to the fact that we are not that far from finding the version that will give us the results and change the dynamic.”

ALTERNATIVES AT FULL-BACK

“We will look for the best option since we do not have either of our two starting right backs and neither is Rubén Iranzo available. We will look for the best solution for the match.”