Hugo Duro: "We're excited and eager to take advantage of the good dynamic against Atlético de Madrid"

You are having a great season with 9 goals and 2 assists. Is this your best moment? Do you feel you can still give more?

As you get older you gain more experience on the pitch and on a sporting level I would say yes, it is my best moment.

The fans are calling for you to be called up to the national team. Do you see yourself being called up soon?

Well, that's not an issue for me, it's up to the coach to decide. I have to keep doing well at the Club and if one day the award comes, great. I'm focused on helping Valencia CF and keep scoring goals.

You chose the number 9 last summer after a difficult season, a decision that in a way could be said to have given you more responsibility. What was that decision like and why?

I was quite excited, I have always worn it in lower categories. When I had the chance, I told my father and my father told me that it was a lot of pressure. I didn't care, wearing the '9' at the end of the day is something symbolic, that doesn't make you score or miss more goals. I never thought about the pressure it could put on me. I knew the year was going to be demanding, but I knew I was going to give everything to improve.

What is the secret of the locker room of this team that is performing so well this season?

It is a hard-working, humble, young group and everyone is eager to contribute and prove themselves. It is a unique opportunity for everyone to be here, to be able to earn a place in Valencia CF and it is something that makes us very excited. And then, the coach is fair, no one can relax because he takes you out of the eleven. That competitiveness makes us a better group and makes things go well.

It's been more than a decade since VCF last won away from home against Atlético. Do you think the team is capable of breaking that dynamic this week? Is it the best time to do it?

I don't know if it's the best time, but we're going to go for it. We're going with enthusiasm, with the desire to take advantage of our good dynamic and with the mentality of winning there to keep making it three in three and keep going up.

How important it is to have a good atmosphere in the locker room?

It's very important. Last year I lost that smile and everyone noticed it. We have enthusiasm and desire to come to training, we want to be with our teammates, we are friends more than teammates, we have fun and we work. I attach a lot of importance to that. We have to keep it up. It's a pleasure.

How have you managed to become a family and build such a good momentum?

I said it a short time ago, we all assume that there is no one person who can stop running. Those who come from VCF Mestalla are wonderful, they are humble, they want to work... It is difficult to find a group like this, everyone comes with the desire to work, to help, not to save a race and the union that we have, I can say that I have never been in such a good dressing room.