Valencia boss Baraja jumps to defence of Peter after costly miss vs Mallorca | OneFootball

Valencia head coach Rubén Baraja has moved to launch a stern defence of Peter Federico, after the attacker’s high-profile miss in the club’s latest outing.

Valencia, of course, were back in action on Saturday, welcoming RCD Mallorca to the Mestalla for a La Liga clash.

When all was said and done, Los Che were forced to make do with a somewhat disappointing share of the spoils, owing to a goalless stalemate.

The aforementioned Peter, meanwhile, was afforded his maiden starting berth, on the left of the hosts’ attack.

Amid what has proven a largely underwhelming start to life in Valencia since his January arrival from Real Madrid, though, the 21-year-old, again, failed to take advantage of the opportunity.

Not only that, but he was responsible for fluffing his lines from a hugely presentable position, prior to being hooked from proceedings at the Mestalla.

Speaking to the media post-match, it therefore came as little surprise when Peter’s chance to notch what would have come as the only goal of the match was put to manager Rubén Baraja.

In his response, though, Valencia’s headmaster was keen to defend the winter arrival at the club:

“When you are [watching from] off the field, we would all put it in,” Baraja began, as cited by Marca. “It seemed very clear to me, but then watching the replay, it comes half bouncing. I must have missed one of that type. It’s a shame but I don’t think the pressure is getting to him at all. I don’t value the specific actions, I see his effort, his work… He’s having a hard time earning minutes because he comes from a different standard (Real Madrid B), but he has will and desire and the attitude of “I’m going to war with my team against the opposing players”.”

Conor Laird | GSFN