Gayà: "I'm ready to bring my experience to the team"

Valencia CF captain, José Luis Gayà, has been medically cleared after 5 months of recovery from the severe injury he sustained to the rectus femoris muscle in his left thigh. The defender spoke to VCF Media with his mind set on the upcoming match against UD Las Palmas.

Recovery

"It’s been tough months of hard work. Injuries are part of football, but fortunately, I hadn't experienced being sidelined for so long. Being out for such a long time gives you a different perspective; you appreciate everything much more. Coming in, wanting to be there, but not being able to, is very frustrating for a player. I didn’t let it consume me; I focused on taking things day by day. Every little step I took was always a solid one, and that’s been very important to me, closing stages of the recovery. I’m proud of that and I’m ready for whatever comes next."

Progress

"Being able to rejoin the team and seeing that I was feeling good also gave me confidence. The last step was for Lempainen to check on me, as he was the one who performed my surgery. It was important for him to assess my strength and endurance levels. Everything went well, and that gives me peace of mind."

Return to competition

"My return will be gradual. I haven’t been able to play since March. I want to take it step by step, just like I’ve done until now, with solid progress. These months on my own have been challenging, but I’ve faced them the best way possible so that when I return, I’ll be in the best condition. I want to come back well, confidently, and gradually."

Support from the fans

"The fans have supported me so much during this time. They, along with my team and family, have been my inspiration to keep going. Feeling everyone’s confidence isn’t easy, but I have it, and I’m ready to always give my all. As I’ve always done, I’ll leave everything on the field to make sure things go well, and I’ll bring my experience to the table, which is what I plan to do. After the picture and the announcement that I was back, I started receiving a lot of messages, just like when I got injured. So, I want to thank them for all their support over these months, and now it’s my turn to repay them with my return."

The team

"It’s been really hard for me to be away from the team, unable to help... there’s still a lot of the season left, and we need to stay positive and believe in the team. We’re all convinced that the situation will turn around. We are the first to be critical of ourselves, but I’m sure the team will respond, with the fans and with Mestalla."

Match at Mestalla against UD Las Palmas

"Winning home matches is crucial, and with the fans, we’re always stronger. Monday’s game has to be, for us, a very important one, and I’m sure, as always, the fans will show up, and we have to secure the three points no matter what."