Bordalás: "We are aware of the difficulties but have enthusiasm and commitment" | OneFootball

Valencia CF

Valencia CF coach José Bordalás gave his customary pre-match press conference ahead of the team's trip to Pamplona, where they take on CA Osasuna at El Sadar on Sunday afternoon.

Now the transfer market has closed, are you satisfied with the signings? You requested a midfielder throughout the summer. When Arambarri didn't come, what other options were there that didn't convince you?

They have just arrived. It is too early to make an assessment of the footballers who have come in. They arrive with great enthusiasm, with the aim of helping and being important. Their day to day work will tell us what they can give us. We had alternative options for a midfielder. The targets that we had were not within our reach and we have not brought those players in. That was not because there was no interest on our part, but you know the difficulties of the transfer market. Now we have to work with the maximum enthusiasm and try to make sure that those who have arrived adapt as soon as possible.

What is your assessment of your sports management department? Have you felt like a sporting director? All of those players who have come are at your request.

This is not the time to make such assessments. We all know the difficulties and we would have liked other players to come in who have not been able to, but those who have come in do so with enormous enthusiasm.

How is Gayà? Is he going to be able to play in Pamplona?

He is doing very well. He has done a great job in a very short time. He has done everything that he can, as well as all the medical staff and the people that we work with every day so that he arrives in perfect condition. Today he has trained normally and we have confidence that he will be with his teammates.

Valencia CF have had two players who have returned late from international games: Alderete and Maxi Gómez. How do you assess this controversy, and the fact that there are games that have been postponed?

I don't usually give an opinion on decisions made regarding other teams . When making relevant decisions, everyone must be taken into account. We have had players come back today and others yesterday. If we look at it from that point of view, we could think that there is a disadvantage. When making these decisions you have to take into account all the teams.

How are Alderete and Maxi doing?

I think that they are doing fairly well. I have talked to them and they were a bit tired from their journeys, which were long. It is part of these commitments with national teams, which disrupt the usual work and the usual schedule. We will see how they do tomorrow.

What worries you the most about Sunday's game against Osasuna?

They are a great team, they have a magnificent coach and they have been doing things really well. They are very clear about things, compete at a magnificent level and we have to get a good result. They are a great team. They showed it on the last matchday by coming back in a game that was not easy at all. They have players with enormous experience. They are a great team against whom we are obliged to be at our best.

Carlos Soler has been in the media a lot, having scored five goals in six games. Could this go to his head?

We are very happy that Carlos Soler has been called up for Spain and has been an important player. He has had some great matches. When he arrived I told him that the important thing is to play well for his team. Soler is very focused. I don't think he is a player who is weakened by praise. He is very committed and he is very smart. He is working with his teammates, is showing humility and I'm sure that tomorrow he will have a great game.

Valencia CF didn't win two games in a row last season. Now you have a new opportunity.

I never look to the past, only to the present, and I don't stop to think about the results from last season -because that is not going to help you to win games now. We are in a new season, in a new scenario and we are only thinking about the match against Osasuna. Our goal is to play a great game and come away with the victory.

How do you plan training sessions without your international players?

It is always difficult for clubs with many internationals. We had to use kids from the VCF Academy. We have a significant number of internationals. For a player it is always important to represent your national team, but they have a commitment to Valencia CF and they know that they are obliged to give their best. We adapt because there is no other choice. In goal, Giorgi has been away with his country. We know who will be in goal tomorrow. We have great competition in the squad, and that is good for the team.

You have an extensive squad. Can you take advantage of this game to rotate, with the next game against Real Madrid in mind?

We analyse this. My goal is always to field the players who can help us the most. The squad is extensive but I always make decisions for the benefit of the entity as a whole. What we are not going to do is field players who we think are not 100%. The performance has to be at the maximum level. We cannot perform at 70%. The player must be sincere and know how fit he is.

How do you see the group ahead of tomorrow's game?

The squad look good to me, and want to return to competition and play league matches. When you don't get good results, for one reason or another, you don't want to have a break and want the next game immediately, and when you get good results you want to have continuity because the team are doing well. That's the way the calendar is. The group want to have a great game at El Sadar tomorrow. We are aware of the difficulties that we have, but we have enthusiasm and great commitment.