Guedes: "We couldn't afford to lose here"

Gonçalo Guedes came up with a brace in extra time to see Valencia CF through to the next round of the Copa del Rey. The Portuguese would not focus solely on his goals, however, and reflected on the performance as a whole in a post-match interview.

"I'm happy about my brace, but I think that the most important thing was that we managed to fight back. We couldn't afford to lose here. It would have been a big mistake, but it can happen. In the next cup game we can't play a first 45 minutes like we did today. We have to look at the second half and the response from the team, as well as the fact that we ended the game very well and very confident, playing well and enjoying a lot of chances. We have to continue this way in LaLiga and in the Copa del Rey," he told VCF Media.

"I think that the first half is something that we can't repeat. We needed to have much more attitude and desire," Guedes warned.

"Terrassa showed us that we shouldn't pay attention to the division the opposition play in. We didn't start off well, but in the second half our attitude changed -and so did the game. It was difficult right through to the end. We did it, and once it was 2-2 we played with more patience and calm. The quality of our players pulled us through."

"The first half today is something that we have to forget about quickly. It can't happen again. In the second half -and in extra time- we played with patience and calmness, confidence and quality. Things worked out a lot better then. I think that the comeback was good for us, and we take a good lesson from today: We know what we have to do. We need patience, attitude and calmness, and to believe in ourselves. I think that today was a good lesson for us."

Guedes and his teammates have a challenge ahead at the weekend, in the form of a game against FC Barcelona. They will begin preparing for the contest on Thursday.

"It's going to be a very difficult game against FC Barcelona. We are going to look at all of their strengths and weaknesses. We have to try to win. We want to win and we are going there to win -although we know that it will be very difficult. It's not impossible. We have quality and a good team, and we have to go for the win and as many points as possible."