Javier Aguirre: Despite the extremely difficult match, the players maintained a strong fighting spirit throughout.

Valencia manager Javier Aguirre attended the post-match press conference after the team's 2-2 draw against Racing Santander. This match also marked his first appearance as Valencia's head coach.  

Javier Aguirre said: "It's hard to measure this feeling with specific data or standards, and I can't pinpoint a specific time in the game, but there were definitely some performances that I was satisfied with. Racing Santander is a strong team that should not be underestimated. With home advantage, they can be competitive against any opponent and regain possession through high pressing, which we experienced firsthand today."  

"After the opponent scored the second goal, we quickly adjusted our strategy, proactively strengthened our attack, and were willing to take certain risks. What I am most satisfied with is the spirit shown by the players. Whether it was their active running or their continuous pressure on the opponent, it demonstrated their level of commitment. Even though some players had cramps, they still persisted in fighting and did not give up easily. I highly approve of this attitude and have already expressed my affirmation to the players in person."  

"However, we must also face our shortcomings. For example, when the opponent scored the second goal, we failed to mark the attacking players well, and the team's defensive formation was too deep. We did have opportunities to come back and win the game, but if we had actually won, it would have been unfair to Racing Santander, as their performance should not have ended in defeat. In addition, the fans gave the team tremendous support today, and the El Saldínero Stadium is a beautiful stadium that is very suitable for playing football."  

“We didn’t do a good job in possession, often losing possession easily and even struggling to complete three passes in a row. Racing Santander is a very fast-paced and high-intensity team, and they always give their all. Although we created some attacking opportunities, our overall performance still seemed to lack something. I hope the players can show the confidence and momentum they need and strive to complete consecutive passes more smoothly in the game.”  

"This was a tactical mistake on my part. We failed to effectively limit the performance of the opponent's midfielders, which put the team on the back foot in the first half and put them under considerable pressure. Subsequently, the opponent broke through our goal again, further disrupting our game plan and forcing us to change our original rhythm and instead commit more players to a full-scale attack."  

"However, we still performed well in terms of ball control, especially in the second half. The quality of our ball handling improved further, and we gradually began to control the rhythm of the game. We have completed the first step, which is to show the right attitude. Next, the whole team must continue this running and fighting spirit, actively fight for possession, and give our all on the field. I believe that the team can deliver an even better performance in the future than in this game."  

Speaking about the atmosphere in the locker room, Javier Aguirre said, "The players were all disappointed with the result, and everyone's feelings were quite complicated because we had a chance to win at one point. However, considering that the team was even facing the possibility of losing at that time, getting a draw in the end is an acceptable result. The players showed great fighting spirit in this tough match and finally managed to equalize the score."  

"The players were exhausted, some even had leg cramps, and that's the spirit a team's locker room should have. We must feel disappointed that we didn't win the game, and we should also feel sorry that we only got a draw. No matter what the result is, as long as the players have given their all on the field, there is no reason to blame them. Of course, I did give them a stern talking-to, in my usual way, and it included some rather blunt words."  

Image source: Internet/Valencia official website