To put the standard end-of-year question another way, what would prefer to forget about 2014?
Mbia's goal.
Have you dared to watch it again?
No, and I never will. For me it was like that game didn't happen. I've erased it from my mind, it was a massive disappointment.
But don't you think it was that game, and the previous one against Basel, were the games which united Valencia and brought the fans back together?
Yes, that's true – what happened in both of those nights at Mestalla is something I have never experienced on any football pitch. Our fans deserved to see us in the final. [Sevilla] snatched that chance away from us. I just hope that soon we can return the favour and give something back to our fans – and do something for them for everything they've done for us because right now, Mestalla is a fantastic crowd to play in front of; the atmosphere is like I have never seen it before.
You as a player have won over Mestalla but your relationship with supporters was a different story at the beginning. What's changed?
It was the culmination of a lot of things. But [coach, Ernesto] Valverde's arrival did have a lot to do with it. He gave me confidence and under him, I learned many things I didn't know about. That was the key really. He restored my self-confidence and added to that, the team started playing well again. From that moment I started to notice more affection from the stands.
Valverde gave you confidence and Nuno, the captain's armband...
Yes, I am very grateful for both of those things. Under Nuno, I've got my self-confidence back – we talk a lot about the team and I also realize that, at 25, I have been given the responsibility to captain one of top teams in Spain. It does make me feel very proud and make me feel important on the pitch and off it. I am deeply involved in the day to day issues, in the dynamic of the team and getting to know how my team mates are and if they are ok... it's an important step for me both professionally and personally.
Rumours suggest that you are close to renewing terms with the club...
I would like to continue, of course I would. There was a time when I was going through quite a rough time at Valencia and at the beginning, I wanted to leave because I couldn't find my place in the side and at the same time, I wanted to continue developing as a player. That was frustrating. I was young and I thought, 'Well if there's no place for me here then I'll look to go somewhere else'. I feel very fortunate that I decided against it and stayed at a club and in a city which I relate to and identify with more with each day. As for extending my contract, those are matters for my agent and I don't know a lot about it. The only thing I have said to my representatives are my personal feelings.
You say “I was young” - so was [Diego] Piatti when he first arrived and like you, he struggled to carve out a place in the side. Would you say that both of your experiences are an example in perseverance?
Piatti and myself both went through a bad time. But the way Piatti handled it deserves more credit. Piatti was practically an outcast and for me, and for the rest of the team, he set an example in remaining level-headed and knowing how to deal with suffering. Of course you have to be patient with young people; it's understandable that at a club like Valencia, there are demands and pressure – that's how it is in the modern game but for a lot of young players who come here, it's their first time away from home and it's not easy to give the best of yourself right at the start when you are going through such big changes in your life.
Is there more of a feeling of stability within the squad since Peter Lim took over?
It's true that all of us, the players, have been through a difficult time. It wasn't easy for us to ignore all of the fuss that was going on around us. All of us have our own personal issues – contract renewals, offers from other clubs... and yes, there were moments when you did wonder what would happen to Valencia. Now we know that there is an ambitious project in progress and that the foundations are being laid so that we can take a step up and compete at the next level.
What did Peter Lim say to you when you were in Singapore with Rodrigo?
I was really keen to meet him – to put a face to the name. He is a very open, transparent person – very down to earth. He put our minds at ease and told us to tell the rest of the squad not to worry about anything.
What does Valencia aspire to?
Right from my first day I was absolutely in no doubt that our objective is to play in the Champions League, and we are on the right path to do that. There’s still a long way to go and it’s not going to be easy. If we divert from the direction we’re in, it would be a big mistake. We have a lot of tough rivals who are aspiring to the same objective – and then there’s Real Madrid and Barça who are a step ahead of the rest. I can’t see the top two slipping up. Only when we get to the stage where there is seven or eight games left will we know if we have the chance to battle it out with them or not. I think we can think of something more ambitious than just qualifying for the Champions League.
What about the Copa del Rey?
Amongst the many lessons we learned in our opening tie against Rayo, is that we shouldn’t look any further than our next game – against Espanyol. Against Rayo was the first and only time that the team relaxed and we came close to paying the price for that.
Have you spoken with Enzo Pérez yet?
No (laughs). Amongst the players we don’t really talk about those things even though some of us know him personally. But I will say that I believe that you can always strengthen the team with players who come here to put in effort and do well. If Enzo does join, he will be received with open arms.
from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://as.com/diarioas/2014/12/28/english/1419775106_379683.html
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