Aguirre: “I expect an intimidating Mestalla that spurs the team on”

Javier Aguirre held a press conference before Valencia CF’s LALIGA Matchday 12 game against Real Madrid CF.

Squad changes 

“We are close to finalising things; I just need to make decisions regarding two or three situations as to who is available.”

Comments on Mourinho

“He is a very good friend and a great coach; I have nothing but words of gratitude for him. He has always been a gentleman towards me, he has made history, and he has my full respect.”

The passing of Jesús de Miguel

“I send my condolences to his family, to CD Tenerife, and to Jesús Owono’s family. They must be going through a terrible time. These are things that cause deep pain. Some wounds never truly heal, but we have to accept that this is life; we pray for his eternal rest.”

The possibility of the game being postponed

“It’s difficult to give a definitive answer on that. I understand that the whole system is already in motion, and there’s simply no room to reschedule games, as the calendars are just too packed. I couldn’t say whether it’s right or wrong that we’re playing.”

The game

“Playing against Real Madrid CF is motivating in itself; I don’t need to spend any extra time on motivation. That happens naturally when you’re facing one of the world’s giants. We’re going to go for it; anything can happen in the course of a game. Under no circumstances are we going in thinking we aren’t going to win, or simply assuming they are the favourites. We’re going to fight. In order to beat them, you have to have a perfect match -which entails a great many things.”

Mestalla

“I imagine that tomorrow Mestalla will be just as it always is: Intimidating, applying pressure, and getting behind the team. We have to do our part on the pitch to match that energy. Hopefully everything comes together and we get a good result.”

Sadiq

“He’s a character. He’s a good guy with a kind heart. He’s a special player. He shows details fitting of a great player. I’m very happy with him; let’s see if he can bring us more moments of joy like the one the other day.”

Sato

“He’s a young player, and I’m demanding that he compete to a higher level. He’s a very good player when he has the ball. He shows personality; he still needs to improve his work off the ball, but he’s making progress. I really value the effort he’s put in to be here. He’s a player who deserves an opportunity, and he’s going to get one.”

Results at Mestalla

“It’s not that we’re more comfortable away from home, even though our wins have come on the road. We’re actually very comfortable at home. Winning at home is always rewarding because we’re in front of our own fans.”

Aaron Mayol

“He brings energy. He’s a very talented player with great fitness. He’s excellent; he’s just starting out in his career, and he’s going to bring a lot of joy to Valencia CF and to Spain as a whole. He’s a top-tier, national-team-calibre player. He waited for his chance and seized it. He has a very good chance of getting playing time.”

Hugo Duro

“I’ve spoken with him. He’s doing well. We talked about a number of things. He’s one of our players, and we need everyone to be eager to play and ready to contribute. He’s certainly one of those players.”

The incident involving Dani Raba in Elche

“It’s up to the referee to make the call. I officiate during training sessions, and it’s often very difficult to tell whether there is contact, if someone is feigning a touch, or if the ball hit a hand, but in official games, they have VAR. If the officials upstairs determine it’s not a foul, there’s nothing that can be done.”

Pitchwise

“An American representative from Pitchwise came and spoke with Braulio. They attended both the VCF Femenino match and our game in Elche. They’re very focused on data and metrics, analysing our performance in terms of play, fitness, and so on.”

Van Oevelen

“It turns out that his injury wasn’t that serious. He made a sudden, sharp movement at the time, but there were no lasting effects. With cryotherapy and anti-inflammatories, the issue was resolved. He’s fit to play and has been training very well.”

Danjuma

“He’s extremely fast, so playing him further back isn’t ideal. It forces him to cover a lot of ground, even though he’s willing to put in the effort. He’s good in one-on-one situations and he’s a high-calibre player who can help us in any position.”