Ron Gourlay: “We have to keep improving through stability, continuity and competitiveness”

Ron Gourlay , Football CEO of Valencia CF, talked to the media at the end of the summer transfer window in an extensive press conference.

The level of satisfaction with the transfer market

“The transfer market is one of the most complex times of the season, requiring planning well in advance. When I arrived here about twelve months ago, I discussed the most important aspects with the coach. We agreed that developing the potential of talent to reach the first team was vital, and therefore, the decision was made to strengthen the sporting structure to enhance player development.

The transfer window is very important, and we analysed the team's weaknesses and made the signings of Dieng, Sato, and De Haas, taking into account the challenges of Financial Fair Play. We signed two players on free transfers; if we had waited until June or July, the cost would have been much higher.

We had to deal with various problems, such as long-term injuries, and that has an impact. We're talking about four players with long-term injuries, and that affects our sporting planning. Therefore, we had to address those challenges, and despite their injuries, they remain on the club's payroll. We had 25 players, 4 injured, and 3 of those squad members were goalkeepers. We had to find replacements for key positions like centre back, right back, and wingers, and also cover Diakhaby's injury, whilst keeping Financial Fair Play (FFP) in mind. Signing De Haas, Dieng, and Sato early helped us a lot in terms of the end of the transfer window. The renewal of Dimitrievski's contract and the signing of Guido were also crucial.

There are several aspects that need to be discussed. We must consider the transfer policy we followed. I've already mentioned the signings we made at the beginning of the summer and the good additions we've made, the work we've been doing midway through the transfer window, and later, the last-minute signings. We've been working very hard, analysing suitable profiles that the team needed, and we were clear that any players who came in had to fit perfectly into the team and improve it. No one was going to arrive who wasn't going to be here on long-term deals, except for those on loan.

We always have to keep the limitations of FFP in mind, and with that, at the end of the transfer window we finalised the deal for Elliott. He's going to help us a lot with his final pass, he'll bring quality, and he comes with experience. He's joining a great club like Valencia CF and he's going to demonstrate his ambition and talent. It's important that everyone knows that everything we do is important to help the team move forward and make it stronger. All the unseen work by the staff is also important.”

The last day of the transfer window and rumours of attempts to sign Etta Eyong and Marvin Ducksch

“Sometimes it can be frustrating. They were never seriously considered. There were many conversations, 40 or 50 of them, but there was no direct contact and no interest. The club's policy has always been to be attentive. With the signing of Elliott, we were right at the limit of our Financial Fair Play allowance, but we were open to any interesting opportunities. There are rumours; Valencia CF are a very big club and people are very attentive to what we do. I repeat, there has been no interest in these players.”

Decisions made by the sporting management

“They were the right moves. You only have to look at the team and the situation we had thirteen months ago. There have been 23 transactions, including two signings of top players: Guido and Sato. We'd been talking for six months without anyone knowing until FC Tokyo announced it. A lot of work goes into a move, and the team have done a fantastic job. There are many challenges when there are so many changes. The players need time to adapt. We have to consider the arrivals and departures, ensuring they fit with the Club's philosophy, and we must always keep in mind the players from the VCF Academy.”

Corberán’s contract renewal

“It’s a topic I’ve already addressed. In football, you have to make important decisions, and you have to stand by what you believe in. In this sense, although there was a lot of pressure last season, I continued to believe in the trust placed in the team and the coach. We were able to overcome the obstacles from the middle of the season onwards. Both the club and I trusted that Carlos Corberán was the right person to lead this club. With his leadership and the quality of the players signed in the winter transfer window, he helped us raise our level in the second half of the season.”

We're at a big club and we're under a lot of pressure. Stability is essential, and after some difficult seasons, the club need time to make changes -but with stability. Only then will we strengthen the club. We missed out on European competition by just one point last term, in what was a challenging season.

The three phases Corberán has gone through since arriving are as follows: The first six months, when he arrived during a difficult period and helped us resolve things. The second phase was the first half of last season, which was challenging for everyone, but it was a time to come together and correct the situation. The third phase, which was the second half of last season, saw the team perform very well. I believe the team's performance in the last seven games was excellent, demonstrating the quality of the players. We need competitiveness and consistency, and if we continue like this, we hope to keep improving the team's situation.

Corberán has the full support of the board, the owners, and myself. He is part of the strategic decision behind this project, a fundamental aspect of this policy that requires stability and confidence. Continuity is key. It has been a difficult start, but we believe we will turn things around.”

His future

“I didn’t say I would be here two years; I said three, and I was also referring to four transfer windows. I’m not going to resign. I see what’s happening at the club, I know the processes, and we’re moving in the right direction. I’m not referring to the start of this season, which hasn’t been acceptable. It also has to be said that two out of the three matches were played within three days, in very hot weather. After 35 years in this business, I want to stay here, finish what I’ve started, and I hope to complete these three years of the project. It’s not up to me to give myself a mark. We’re making progress; things at this club must be done with long-term planning and not just a short-term focus. We have to plan well from the ground up, with our sights set on the next ten years. I also like football to ‘explain’ the situation, and by that I mean the facts. If we look back at the second half of last season, we finished ninth with 32 points, and we could have been the third best team in that second half. We’ve come from a difficult period, but we’re moving forward, and the important thing is that we’re still progressing together.”

The target for Valencia CF

“The coach and players have a clear objective, which is the same objective conveyed by the president: to progress, improve, and keep going. Last season we finished ninth, just missing out on European qualification, and we continue with the same goal: to improve and move forward. We'll take it one step at a time and judge things when we reach the end of the season.”

Gayà

“He is a Valencia CF player and will continue to be one. This is not the time to discuss the details of his contract. Gayà is the captain, everyone has the utmost respect for him, and it wouldn't be appropriate to talk about the details of his contract.”

The project

“When I arrived, I tried to explain the situation so we could move forward. One of the cornerstones was the Nou Mestalla. We all love it. We have to keep going and be able to compete, and for that, our way of generating income is through the Nou Mestalla, to comply with Financial Fair Play. The project revolves around that, through the opportunities it will create to invest more in the club, marketing opportunities at a national and global level, and also to foster the development of the academy with their new building. I was able to talk a lot about technical aspects, but the backbone of it all is two things: Nou Mestalla to generate more income and developing talent through the VCF Academy to give all the fans the team they want on the pitch.

Valencia CF have a history full of ambition and high standards, and to maintain them, it is very important to plan well for the future. I always want to win, and so do Valencia CF. To do things well, we have to compete, and the fans have to see the hunger of the players when they take to the pitch. That will help us move forward. We have had successes in the past, and we will have them in the future.

The FFP situation we've had has been similar to last season's, and we have to work with that. I'm not the one who sets that figure; LALIGA do. But that figure is based on revenue and revenue generation. We've modified the club's recruitment model, becoming more intelligent with it, and we've demonstrated that with the players we've brought in.”

Windows to get into Europe

“I wouldn’t consider the first three matches as part of the grand scheme yet; we should focus on the final games of last season, where we demonstrated our strength as a team. The start of this season hasn’t been ideal at all. I’m disappointed, and the coach and players are too. We need to turn things around; it’s only been three games, and we have many more to come. We have the confidence to do it. Both the fans and I feel the pain from this start to the season, but those two matches in such a short period didn’t help. The club are responsible for finding solutions to the problems. It’s crucial to have a strategy and a working plan, execute it well, and get the ball across the line. We have to be competitive, show the fighting spirit the players have, and control every game.”

The dissatisfaction from the fans

“These things happen in football; it’s not an easy journey. On Matchday 32 and 33 last year, there were 12 teams that hadn’t yet secured their place in LaLiga for this season. The results we achieved in those final games really mattered, and that says a lot about us. I understand the fans’ frustration; I feel it too. I’m not at all happy after the match in A Coruña, and everyone at the club already knows my opinion. Those three matches have been and gone, and we have to focus on what lies ahead. I’ve already said that I will always do my best for this club, and for that, I need time. We have to keep growing step by step, and I hope that very soon we’ll see the fruits of the hard work we’ve put in this summer. I understand the concerns, but we can overcome this situation together and achieve our goals.”

His previous statements

“When I arrived, the situation was difficult, but we worked hard, and I mentioned four transfer windows; we're past the third one now. Things can't be fixed overnight, and I also said I would help the club move forward -and we have. Regarding the sporting director, I would say that this position is no longer necessary. We analysed opportunities, implemented a new sporting structure that works, and that has changed my mind on the matter. I'm doing what I promised at the time, even if it's difficult to see from the outside. I have 35 years of experience and I'm perfectly aware of the pressure that is present at these clubs. I said I was going to help us move forward, and I intend to keep that promise, always within the timeframes I've mentioned. What wouldn't help is changing things every year: Things like, for example, changing the coach every year. Besides that, we wouldn't comply with Financial Fair Play if we did that. It's very important to comply with it.”

Investment in the club

“I don’t think Peter Lim is abandoning the club. The club are moving forward with the Nou Mestalla. I pass by it every morning and it looks almost finished. This is going to be a very positive thing, and the proof will come then. There won’t be any excuses, but I need the necessary time to make everything work. We have a good plan, and I stand by it. It’s about winning games, and we shouldn’t overcomplicate things. If we win, we’ll achieve our goals.”

Excitement about signings

“It’s part of the journey. There have been some legends at this club. Years ago, this club was valued at three times as much as now; there were top-level players here. Now, we’re in transition. We can’t compete at the same level as before -I have to be honest about that. But I’ve been at clubs with incredibly talented players, like here at Valencia CF. We need time. I understand the fans’ frustration, but my team and I are going to do everything we can to rectify this situation and keep moving forward.”

The frequency of his press conferences

“I didn’t realise I was so popular that you all wanted to see me more often. In any case, that’s no problem. I can meet with journalists more regularly if needed; I’d prefer to do so when I have something to actually talk about and not just rumours. I think it’s important for the fans to know the truth about things, and I’m happy to share that. There’s no communication problem, and we make sure the communication flows smoothly. I like to speak when I have things to share.”

Fan frustration with results

“I’m a fan too. I’ve dedicated 40 years to football. It’s very important to see the kind of football that both the fans and I want to see. In this situation, time is a problem. I want ‘men’ to take to the pitch. If there’s anyone who doesn’t want to wear the Valencia CF shirt and isn’t proud of doing so, they should come and knock on my door. The players know this and accept their responsibility, as does the coach. Ultimately, though, I bear the greatest responsibility.”

Improving without investment

“The journalist has mentioned two clubs I’ve had the pleasure of working with (Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC), that have been very successful in generating revenue through sponsorship. The Nou Mestalla will help us increase our revenue, and, followed by success on the pitch, will help us achieve international reach. We need to win to compete in Europe, and as we’ve seen, the big clubs have big stadiums to generate more revenue. The Nou Mestalla will help us raise more income, sign more and better players, and compete in Europe -in other words, it will translate into success. Valencia CF have been there before, and we have to take it one step at a time. This season we have the Financial Fair Play system to deal with, and next season will be different. We’ll have a larger investment, more revenue from the Nou Mestalla, and that will help us improve the team, strengthen it, and take it to the next level.”

Sales

“Selling a player is always a club’s last resort. Weneed to move forward, and to do that, we need to retain our best players.There’s no pressure to sell anyone. In this transfer window, we’re operatingwithin the FFP limits”

Needs in the transfer market

“Until Sadiq got injured, we didn’t need a striker,and that happened on the last day of the transfer window. We have three centrebacks.I’m not ashamed. I’ve brought in nine players, some have left, and André Almeida’sloan has allowed us to bring in a very talented player from Liverpool FC inHarvey Elliott. I understand that the fans might feel frustrated, but we’regoing to rectify the situation. We need a strong person in this role, and wehave one. Judge me when this period is over. I’m not ashamed at all after 35years in football. You can look at my CV. I’m not hiding from anyone.”