Valencia’s Pepelu Addresses Rumors of Discord and Emphasizes Team Unity

Valencia midfielder Pepelu has publicly addressed rumors suggesting a rift between the dressing room and head coach Carlos Corberán following the draw against Real Betis at Mestalla. He categorically denied any internal discord and strongly defended the cohesion within the team. In a mixed zone interview at Mestalla, when asked about the notion of ‘undermining the coach,’ Pepelu stated, “I find it somewhat disrespectful to my teammates for such comments to arise. The coach knows we are with him; we have demonstrated that, and it will continue to be so because he has made us much better and will surely help us improve even more.”

Furthermore, Corberán also emphasized the camaraderie and solidarity present in the squad after the match, a sentiment echoed by Pepelu, who noted that this unity is the team’s cornerstone: “The turning point is that the team has always been united. There has not been a single scratch, so to speak. Since I’ve been here at Valencia, our identity has been that sense of unity, commitment, and giving everything.”

The midfielder acknowledged the team is facing challenging times but insisted that their attitude and effort remain non-negotiable. He remarked, “We will have better days and worse days, but we all work together, leaving everything for our teammates. This is football; there can be mistakes and successes, but that will never change.”

Regarding the draw against Betis, Pepelu admitted the team was not satisfied with the result—”never satisfied with a draw because we always want to win”—but appreciated the group’s commitment: “Today the team showed spirit; we left everything on the pitch. We did not achieve victory, but I believe it is a good starting point for improvement and moving forward in this direction.”

On the path forward for the black-and-white squad, Pepelu is clear: “The way forward is to persist. Today we saw a Valencia closer to what we want, with that identity and spirit. The path must be to give our all on the field and play football, as that is what ultimately leads to victory.”

Regarding the team’s inconsistency at the start of the season, Pepelu reminded that football does not always adhere to a precise formula. “This is not mathematics; there are moments, forms, and days that go better than others. The important thing is to persist and continue believing because we have already shown that we are good players,” he explained.

Finally, when questioned about the controversial incident between Abde and Tárrega, the Valencia player preferred not to comment: “It was a specific play that I was too far from to assess accurately. I believe he was headbutted, but the referee deemed it a yellow card, and I cannot say much more about it.”