Baraja is finding it tough: "Fans want us to fight for trophies, but our reality is totally different"
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 03.09.23. | 17:07
Valencia's start of the season doesn't look promising as the club has to rely on young players
Valencia boss Ruben Baraja didn't hide his disappointment after seeing his team fall to a meek 1-0 loss at Deportivo Alaves on Saturday night. He expressed it first in his post-match interview and reiterated it in the press conference.
The former Spain international midfielder admitted that the start of the game had been terrible.
"I don't understand what happened. We were always late to every ball."
Baraja sent a message that could well be directed to his players.
"We must understand that this is how it is, that games depend on getting into the rhythm we need to be in. They were better in duels, with and without the ball. We need to play with intensity from minute one. In the second half, we improved, and the substitutions helped us have more clarity, but we lacked the sharpness in attack."
Valencia coach Ruben Baraja on his squad:
— LaLigaExtra (@LaLigaExtra) September 2, 2023
"I have already said that it seems short of some players to me. Some reflections have to be made by the board and the owners of the club.”
“I have to dedicate myself to training and working twice as much now.” pic.twitter.com/Kvibjq3rVP
In any case, one of his most emphatic statements came in the subsequent press conference when he analyzed the team's situation after the close of the transfer window.
"It's obvious that we all want a better Valencia, one that is competing for trophies. But the reality we have is the current one. Our fans, I understand, are frustrated. They feel that better things can be done and improved. But we have to abide by our restrictions, and that's what we need to explain. Because what the fans want is for players to come, for there to be a good team, the possibility of competing for important things, and our reality now is completely different."
Valencia's finances mean they cannot go out and buy players like in the good old days but rely on the kids growing up at the academy. It's the conditions Baraja accepted when he took over the job at Mestalla, where he used to play Champions League football in his playing days.
"We have to bet on young players, that they perform well, that this puts them in the spotlight. Three of our players are going to the U21 national team, when last season they were in the Segunda RFEF, the fourth tier of Spanish football. That's a reward for their hard work and a testament to our coaching. But we have to accept the other reality. I would love to tell Valencia fans that we would have liked to sign other players, but the reality is what we have. It's very evident. It's a moment of great difficulty, and we have to seek some stability this season because otherwise, we'll be in this situation all the time. We need the youngsters to grow so they understand what Valencia is. And we need the fans to support the young players and the team to achieve the goal of this season."
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 4
Friday
Cadiz - Villareal 3-1 (2-1)
/Ramos 18, Machis 30 p, 50 - Sorloth 10/
Almeria - Celta 2-3 (0-2)
/Akieme 54, Arribas 68 - Nunez 24, Larsen 33, Swedberg 87/
Saturday
Sociedad - Granada 5-3 (2-1)
/Kubo 9, 44, Zubimendi 59, Barrentxea 67, Bosch 76 og - Le Normand 35 og, Boye 83, Zaragoza 90+9/
Real Madrid - Getafe 2-1 (0-1)
/Joselu 47, Bellingham 90+5 - Mayoral 11/
Alaves - Valencia 1-0 (1-0)
/Ozkacar 6 og/
Real Betis - Rayo Vallecano 1-0 (0-0)
/Willian Jose 53/
Sunday
Girona - Las Palmas 1-0 (0-0)
/Portu 88/
17.15: (3.20) Mallorca (3.20) Ath.Bilbao (2.50)
19.30: (1.50) Atl.Madrid (4.30) Sevilla (7.75)
22.00: (5.30) Osasuna (3.60) Barcelona (1.70)
***odds are subject to change
