Rioja: "We have two games left and have to go all-out"

Luis Rioja talked to VCF Media after Valencia CF's 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano at Mestalla, looking back at the point won by the team.

A hard-fought match

“It was a very close game that became difficult for us after conceding a goal. We managed to react, but we didn't do enough to take all three points.”

A lack of clarity

“We lacked a bit of clarity in the final third. Rayo are a team that really disrupt the flow of the game, because they get behind your defence so much, and we weren't able to exploit the spaces they left us. We couldn't take control of the game in the final minutes. We weren't sharp enough when pressing, and they took control more, preventing us from pushing forward in the closing stages as we wanted.”

An insufficient result

“What we lacked was a bit of clarity. The team played well at times and overwhelmed Rayo, a team that like to press and push forward. We tried to stop them, and at times it worked well. It's a shame we couldn't take all three points, but the team's effort was huge.”

The next two games

“There are two games left and we have to go all out in them, because this club demand the best from each and every one of us."

Giving their all

“Once you step onto the pitch you have to give it your all, you have to leave everything out there. It's the least you can ask of a player, to give everything for the club that has trusted in you.”