Valencia Coach Carlos Corberán Addresses Recent Match Issues

Valencia’s head coach, Carlos Corberán, sought to clarify the events of the match against Celta. He noted that his team was in contention for a draw until a critical error by Diakhaby led to a counterattack and a goal by El Abdellaoui, making the score 3-1. Corberán shared his analysis during the post-match press conference.

The statistics regarding Valencia’s performance are telling: “The numbers speak for themselves. This is not merely an opinion; it is a responsibility. We are facing some concerning figures.”

When asked if the scoreline was exaggerated, he responded, “It may seem like an excuse to say so. The result is what it is, and we must take responsibility. While the score does not reflect everything that occurred on the field, it is the outcome of what transpired. Those who watched the match will form their own judgments.”

Corberán acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “The statistics we have are not encouraging. We are aware of the difficulty we face and the necessity to change our approach.”

Regarding Julen Agirrezabala’s condition, he explained, “Julen sustained an injury during the play between the third and fourth goals. We had already made our substitutions and had no further options. We believed that with ten players on the field, we could still make an impact. It appears to be a serious hamstring injury. We will know more in the coming days regarding his recovery time.”

On the impact of individual errors, he remarked, “Football is a game of successes and failures. Our mistakes have cost us goals, and our successes have not been enough to balance the final score, which ended up being significant. It is a result that hurts deeply.”

Reflecting on the moment after Pepelu’s goal, when Valencia seemed back in the match, Corberán stated, “I felt the momentum shifted after the 2-1 scoreline, when we had the chance to equalize. We failed to finish our opportunity, and they capitalized with the third goal. That moment definitively broke the match. At 3-1, we were forced to chase the game, and anything could happen. Moreover, Julen’s unfortunate injury added to the gravity of the situation. Ultimately, we must accept responsibility for what occurred and face the consequences.”

When asked about his personal feelings after the defeat, he expressed, “No one enjoys losing football matches or being unable to win. We are Valencia; we understand the expectations and the significance of our club, and when we do not perform well, it affects us deeply.”

Regarding his conversation with Claudio Giráldez after the match, he clarified, “Our discussion revolved around Julen Agirrezabala’s injury. Had their goalkeeper needed to be substituted due to a head injury, we would have had the opportunity to make a change as well. Julen was already injured before the fourth goal; he had sustained a setback in the prior play, and that was all we discussed. Nothing more.”