Mexican coach JavierAguirre has made it clear that Valencia will face its first Copa del Rey match with the utmost seriousness, emphasizing that the team has “everything to lose and everything to gain.” In the press conference prior to the match against Tavernes, which will be held at the Mestalla on Wednesday, Aguirre recalled that the competition should not be seen as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to reorient the club's dynamics and improve its results in the league.
Aguirre explained that Valencia needs to change its performance, since the current numbers do not reflect the level of the fans. "We are a club that needs to show its face in both competitions. We have not done so in the league, we are with a deficit in numbers, and we face the Cup with the same enthusiasm that we have to rejoin the league," he stated. The coach is looking for his first victory with the Valencian team and considers that the cup tournament can serve as preparation for the next league match, scheduled for Sunday against Elche at the MartínezValero.
The coach emphasized the respect that must be shown to the rival, despite the difference in category. “We will go out on the field with the best possible team, with the greatest seriousness, and we will try to play a good game that will serve us well for Sunday,” he said. Aguirre warned that players must be aware that “if you relax and underestimate your opponent you could be surprised.” Regarding the lineup, he confirmed that there will be changes and that the reserve team players will have the opportunity to participate, although he did not reveal who would occupy the starting goal. “There are three players who can play, and we will see who stays in the position,” he commented.
The coach also recalled the two Copa del Rey finals he has lost in his career, one in extra time and the other on penalties, and expressed that the opportunity to advance in the competition gives him special motivation. "This possibility that is presented to us starting tomorrow is a good opportunity. We are all starting from scratch, there are more than one hundred of us, we will reduce it and see how far we get," he concluded. With his sights set on the first victory, Aguirre hopes that the Copa del Rey will serve to give life to the players and prepare the team for the challenges that follow in the league.