Valencia got a point at Mestalla after drawing 0-0 with Athletic Club, but Mexican coach JavierAguirre was not satisfied with the result. In a press conference, the coach highlighted the “anger” of his players and the lack of goals, but stated that he is not worried about the team's performance, as he believes that the result is fair and that the club is still on its way to the first victory under his command.
The match was played after Valencia arrived in the city with three consecutive home defeats, which put pressure on the coach. Aguirre described the tie as “a draw with a good flavor” and recalled that Athletic had been superior in the first half, as happened in the previous match against Racing de Santander. The coach admitted that the team did not find the necessary solutions in the first half, but that the changes made at halftime were effective and gave them the opportunity to compete in key moments.
Regarding the defensive performance, Aguirre praised the goalkeeping work of Unai Simón, who managed to keep the goal clean despite the rival's pressure. The coach also pointed out that Valencia took 16 shots, of which four were on target, and that the team has worked a lot on finishing. “Between the goalkeeper and our failures, we missed a goal, but I'm not worried,” said Aguirre, stressing that his main concern is that the team defends well in the middle block and finds a balance throughout the 90 minutes.
The coach also spoke about the attitude of his players after letting the three points slip away. “They saw it close, they leave angry, I like that, that they don't settle for a draw at home,” he commented, highlighting that the team is learning to run more, play better and seek victory. Aguirre concluded that Valencia is on the right path, that the first half of the game was accomplished, the second half was played well at times and that the team continues working to improve.
In summary, Valencia achieved a point at Mestalla, but coach Aguirre is still looking for the first victory under his direction. The team has shown defensive and finishing improvements, although it still needs to find the balance necessary to turn draws into wins. The next challenge will be to demonstrate that Valencia can maintain consistency and close games with more favorable results.