CORBERÁN: "The team are very much alive"

Valencia CF coach Carlos Corberán spoke after the 2-1 win in LaLiga against Celta Vigo at Mestalla.

JAVI GUERRA

“If Javi is aware of the player he is, and when he comes on the field he wants to show what he has inside, he is a player who can make a difference. More than a job for us, it is a job for them. When they become aware of what they can do and take responsibility for what they can do, that is when the player can reach the level he has.”

DETERMINATION

“We were coming into this match after an emotionally difficult week. The team had to deal with a tough blow. I liked the determination we showed at the start of the match. Then, tactically, what the opposition started to do better did not allow us to keep up the football we showed in the first 15-20 minutes. The opposition adjusted better and prevented us from developing the volume we wanted. But in that more even situation, the team responded and looked for solutions by being aggressive in space, by being more direct. In a tactically tighter match, our determination helped us get ahead. The second half was more controlled defensively and we went from a chance to making it 2-0 to conceding their equaliser. And at that moment, the team showed determination, character and maturity. I value this maturity from the team very much, because it is very necessary in order to be competitive and win games. The team continued to generate chances and we scored a goal that was decisive to the result. At no time did I see the team collapse.”

MATURITY

“I think the start of the match was very good. We had control in the opposition half and we overcame the pressure that Celta put on us. In that man-to-man game that they created, it was difficult to impose our play and for the team to break through that more complicated situation. I saw their maturity to resolve the problem, finding situations that were outside of a planned strategy. That is maturity on the part of the team. In general, in the second half I saw the team more controlled in defence and attack. The goal did not lead to us losing faith and determination to go for the result. I highly value the team's response.”

PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS

“After a victory with such an effort on the part of the team, the press conference should be more about those who were playing than the possible players that could come in. There are still 24 hours left until the transfer window closes and I know that the club are going to work until the final minute to try to strengthen the team. For me, the important thing is to see that those of us who are here, as I said on the first day, are in the right frame of mind. I already said that we were going to work with the bulk of the team to achieve the objective, and those are the ones who were on the pitch today, who competed today and gave us this important result. It is not respectful to publicly say something that might not come about later. It does not bring anything positive. Internal conversations must be private. My objective will always be to get the best out of the players. I know that those who are here will continue to be here and I am very interested in their commitment, and that each one of them takes responsibility for reaching their best.”

A NECESSARY REACTION

“Today's game was important, for us to compete again, learn from our mistakes and grow. Sometimes failure forces you to grow and learn, even if it is a result that is not easy to forget. But that bitter taste can only encourage you to get the best out of yourself.”

POSSIBLE REINFORCEMENTS

“I don't think I should ask the club for an effort, because I know they are working to make us better and implement some of the requirements that we may have.”

A LONG ROAD AHEAD

“This is going to be a marathon. We are going to have moments in which we should not lose faith. This team are going to fight until the last second of the last game. We have to get through the difficult moments, keep believing, keep fighting and keep working with that determination and that maturity that we saw today. The players have shown that the team are alive and will fight hard. That fight gives hope to everyone and it motivates us for the situation that lies ahead.”

PLAYERS WITH DISCOMFORT

“Starting tomorrow I will start to think about the next match. We will assess the situation for each player after today's match. There are several players who ended up with discomfort. I was aware that Hugo Duro's time was going to be limited. After the 60th minute the risk of injury would have increased a lot, after the discomfort he had. We have to analyse the players who went off. There were problems for Foulquier, Enzo and Diego. Several players felt discomfort that we must evaluate before preparing for the match. The evaluation of these players is part of the preparation. We have to go back to the wound that the Barcelona match left us, in order to take advantage of it and give a better showing of ourselves.”

GOING STEP-BY-STEP

“These are three very important points, as are all the points that we have ahead of us. I value and appreciate the effort and personality of the players to get them, especially after a tough week in which we had to be self-critical and make an improvement to get a better performance from the team. I value very much this effort, this determination and this maturity from the team.”

DIAKHABY

“I said after the Barcelona game that his return was the only positive note on a difficult night. He has been and is a very important player for Valencia CF. He has suffered a lot while out, but he has shown an enormous level of professionalism to make his return. We will always look after him, but we understand that he is ready to help the squad. Every week that we manage to have him available will be an important step towards achieving his improvement and for him to be more prepared to help even more.

LAST DAY OF THE TRANSFER WINDOW

“I know that the club are working hard and with great determination to strengthen the squad. I'm aware of that. My job is to keep myself isolated from that at times, and focus on what is down to me. But I assure you that the club are working on it.”