Marcelino: "We are facing this one like a final"

Marcelino García Toral spoke to the media to preview Valencia CF's final game of the season, in the pre-match press conference for the crunch clash with Real Valladolid.

The turnaround
"I had imagined that we could be here. A coach has to imagine and think about this possibility, as if he doesn't then he can't transmit that. We always believed, because the competitive level of the team was always good. We had a big problem, which was that we only scored 17 goals in the first half of the season, and when our finishing improved, we picked up a lot of points."

"We based our analysis on what we did on the pitch. We had some abnormal numbers. We improved them along with our defensive effectiveness, and if we beat Valladolid we will have taken 38 points in an extraordinary second half to the season. It's not going to be easy, but we are facing this one like a final."

A similar plan to against SD Huesca
"We also wanted to start like that against Alavés and we didn't. The idea is always to go out there with the sole intention of winning. If your first chance works out well and ends up in the net, then that's obviously something that works in our favour in terms of morale. We know that winning is our only option, so we have to act with determination in every facet of play and in every area of the pitch."

Getafe CF and Sevilla FC
"We don't have to focus on what the other teams do. We are in a privileged position and if we win then it doesn't matter what the others do. It's down to us, which is our big advantage, and we are only focusing on winning."

Valladolid with nothing at stake
"I prefer facing a side with nothing to play for, but that doesn't guarantee you the victory. If we look back, there have been wins for teams with nothing at stake. It's not a reason for us to be overconfident or think that the game is already won."

The game of the season?
"This game is our 'confirmation game,' it's not the game that defines our season. There have been 37 games played so far, and without us having taken enough points in those games to make sure that it's down to us this weekend, it wouldn't have been possible.

"We want to give this satisfaction to the fans, and to ourselves, as we've fought against a lot of adversity. We had a first half of the season in which we had 23 points after drawing with Valladolid, with 17 goals scored and 17 conceded. We were able to turn around the situation and get to where it's down to us to take fourth. I hope we are able to confirm fourth place with a win."

Kondogbia
"Kondogbia is going to be available. His recovery has been very good and we are very satisfied with his attitude. He's done a very good job and has been training normally since last Friday."