Baraja: “I understand that the fans are angry but we have no doubt that we can improve”

Valencia CF coach, Rubén Baraja, analyzed in the press room of Mestalla the defeat against Rayo Vallecano. The coach from Valladolid said that he understands the anger of the fans, but he is convinced that the team will improve.

Solutions

The first thing is to accept the result and keep working to try to get points. We have to improve, of course. The result is hard to swallow when you see thatwe were playing for a good chance of getting points at home, which is importantfor us, and the game went uphill very early. Despite trying, wanting it andpushing, we weren't lucky enough to draw level, which would have given us moreoptions, but we have no choice but to think about the next game, obviouslyknowing the pain that this defeat causes us.

Strength to continue

I will not give up. My obsession is to change the situation and I see that we can change it. It is not in my will or in my character to give up.
 When the result we had happens, we have to calm things down and talk from a calm and cool head -and not react in the heat of the moment.
 With these results, we all feel a little drama and put more pressure on ourselves. Rioja is a responsible player who wants to improve and change the situation. We have to keep calm and keep cool heads.

I understand that in the difficult situation we are in, and the moment we are in, the easy thing is to break down everything, but I think there is a chance because there is still a long way ahead in the season. Today's result is bad but we were not so far off drawing the game. We do not know what would have happened if we had equalised. Right now, dramatising is no good.

Chants from the fans

I didn't hear any chants. But it is difficult when you see that the result isn't going your way, when you feel the club and you see that your fans are suffering, that they question your 'Valencianismo', your professionalism, your work... but it is something that I have to live with. We have experience in difficult situations as a coach and as a player. I understand that the fans are angry, but we have no doubt that we can improve and that is what we are doing. It is normal that the fans are angry.

The emotional factor

The results are difficult to take, because when it seems that you can improve you do not achieve it, but football has those moments. Today we were hindered by an action in which we lacked pressure off a corner. We went into the match with a tense attitude and without the conviction we had against Betis and even against Mallorca.

The situation is what it is and sometimes that leads you to rush and make mistakes,or to make the players not be in their best form. We have to accept that toimprove the situation we have to be mentally strong. We are going to suffer alot to achieve the objective but we must not give up. We must persist.

Gayà
He felt some tension in his hamstring and that is why we made the change.

Fran Pérez, Pepelu and Rafa Mir
 I don't like to talk about individuals. Fran Pérez had just played 90 minutes in the Copa del Rey, after a period of time without competing. He was an alternative, but we opted for Diego López, who apart from the first few minutes when he put us through in space a couple of times on that side, tried to adapt to the situation and do his job.
 Pepelu played in the Copa del Rey in Ejea, and came on in the second half because we decided to stick with Enzo and Guerra. Rafa Mir, after 3 months out, needs minutes and continuity and he came on because the game called for us to go wide and have two forwards in the area, although we were not successful in the final metres in putting the ball in and creating clear chances in the final third and we were unable to equalise. All three tried to score.

The calendar
 When you lose a game it seems like the end of the world. We are sad about the result, but on Friday we have another game to try to compete as hard as possible against Real Valladolid and arrive with the conviction that we can compete well and win the game. The next one will be RCD Espanyol and then Deportivo Alavés. We have to go step by step and prepare first for the game against Real Valladolid, which is another opportunity that we will try to take advantage of.

 The transfer window
 When the market opens we will see what happens. The club know the situation we have, and will have to evaluate it. I don't know if, with the economic situation, whether it is possible or not. We are talking about hypotheses and I am looking to the present, today's game and the next one.

Message to the fans
 We cannot ask the fans for anything. Today they pushed us on, especially in the second half. They believe in the team and keep believing and keep thinking that through hard work we can improve. We cannot ask them for anything more. As Valencia CF fans they will be suffering and experiencing a very difficult situation, and we must keep a cool head, trust in the team and have the belief that this team and these players can improve and score points.