Gracia: "It's important to stay confident that we will improve through hard work"

Javi Gracia gave an honest assessment of the game against Athletic Club following the 2-2 draw at Mestalla, speaking with journalists in the post-match press conference.

Working to improve
"All draws or losses are tough results. We gave today a lot of importance and we wanted to make good on our draw away from home at the beginning of the week. It is important to keep going in these difficult moments, and stay confident that we will improve through hard work, because the team needs that. In the offensive phase we are doing rather little, and I am not going to make any excuses for that."

Difficulties in the second half
"Starting the second half in the lead, our idea was definitely not to hold back. We just were not able to bring the ball out. We couldn't link passes together or send our defenders higher up the pitch. Athletic Club didn't let us do that, and we weren't able to overcome their pressure and dominance. When we went behind, we came forward with something else. We had one more chance and we scored from it."

Dominance in games
"All of the games have been uneven. We are struggling and we are not being able to take control of the game, except in certain moments of other matches in which the team have loosened up. In others the team have been suffering a lot."

Tight in the table in LaLiga
"I worry about everything that happens and I try to occupy my time working as much as I can. The results are a consequence of the work that the team do, and we are not getting wins. I can also see that in LaLiga there is not much between the teams, and many are having a hard time getting a sequence of results. It is all very even and there is a long way to go this season. We are working to try to improve the team."

Effort
"I think what we have to do is try our best to make the team play better. The Valencianistas want to enjoy watching their team. Now is a time in which they are suffering more than enjoying. What I can do is try to work to the fullest and help my players to compete better and be more consistent, and use the virtues they give us to play better."

Set pieces
"We got the most out of free kicks from the wings. I would like us to donate every phase of the game and play the way that we have to at all times. Now we are not doing that and the only thing to do is work on that."