Corberán: “We played an overly defensive game”

Carlos Corberán talked to the media after the match against FC Barcelona on Matchday 4 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season, in which Valencia CF suffered a tough 6-0 defeat at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

His assessment of the match

The idea was to defend better than we did. FC Barcelona beat us to second balls, they won the duels... the first few minutes weren't good. We adjusted things a little and started to defend better, but they overcame us and scored the first goal. We tried to adjust the team's vertical movement, but the second goal was a pass between the goalkeeper and our defence. The third came from a shot from outside the box... we fell apart. From there, it's very difficult to make an analysis, because other previous situations we've experienced come to mind. We collapsed, and the result is a consequence of that."

How previous results affected the approach

"When you concede so many goals, it's because you weren’t capable. I'm the first to hold my hands up in that respect, because I wasn't able to approach the match well enough for the team to be more competitive."

Fermín’s influence for FC Barcelona

“As a team, we weren't up to par. We couldn't defend either going forward or backwards. It was a poor match for us, and the result was because of that.”

What changed between the first and second half

“They made a change; a stronger player came in when they brought Raphinha onto the pitch, and we found ourselves conceding two goals in which we weren't up to scratch defensively. When we conceded those two goals, there was the inertia for an FC Barcelona that wanted more, and we became demoralised.”

The difference between the plan and the game 

“The approach was mine. I'm the one who is ultimately responsible; I choose who plays and the formation we use. We must defend better, occupy the width of the field, be aggressive in our pushes forward...”

A message for the fans 

“The message is simple. We share their pain. I understand any conclusion they draw; we didn’t represent Valencia CF the way we want to, and I'm the first to take responsibility. We have a responsibility to accept that it happened and transform it into something better, as we did last year. From there, we need to analyse it, improve, and see a version of the team that isn't the one we saw today.”

Lucas Beltrán

“He's another player who has a chance to play, just like everyone else.”

A possible lack of intensity

“It's an overall issue with how we competed. Tactically, in terms of what was happening in the game... We tried to play in a way that eliminated Barcelona's pressure; by going long and trying to win second balls. We didn't impose ourselves. We didn't avoid being caught offside. We played an overly defensive game, and their attacks overwhelmed us.”

Thierry's return being the only good news

“There isn't any good news. We return to Valencia with our heads down and the responsibility of turning things around in the next game.”

Reviewing the opening games

“It can't be anything other than a negative assessment. It was a very bad game. The analysis is very negative, and we have to work hard to turn it around.”

His evaluation of Santamaría

“Collectively, the game wasn't up to what we wanted. We'll analyse what we didn't do well, and Santamaría is another player whose play we will analyse.”