Paulista: "Many people gave us up for dead., but we know how far we can go"

Muscle injuries prevented Gabriel Paulista from participating in the opening two games of LaLiga's return to action, but the Brazilian was back in the team for the win over Osasuna.

The day after the 2-0 triumph, he spoke to VCF Media to express his satisfaction at having been able to play again, the cautious approach to his fitness, and the upcoming game against SD Eibar.

"Competing again is an enormous joy, as was being out on the pitch at Mestalla with my teammates and helping them to do a good job," he explained.

"Before coming on warming up, feeling that after many days without competing, I felt happy and my desire to compete only increased."
"I'm back at 100%, fully recovered. It was a small injury, but in a very dangerous place. It scars quickly, but it's in a dangerous spot. I could have come back, but if it was too soon then it could have torn and ruled me out for the rest of the season. I wanted to come back, whatever the case."

The game at Mestalla was Paulista's first in LaLiga without a crowd, and he talked about the experience felt.

"It's strange to play like that, especially because we are used to Mestalla being full for every game and the fans being behind us. It felt like a very different -and strange- game."

As for the match on Thursday, the full back is predicting a tough contest against Eibar.

"It's going to be another very difficult game, because they need the result too. It will be very hard fought, and we will battle for a place in Europe. We are going to compete until the final second and we are going to give everything to take the three points.

"Like last season, many people gave us up for dead. That's happened this year too, but we know how far we can go. I'm sure that we will be fighting until the final game to get into next season's Champions League, because it's a beautiful competition. I want to be in the Champions League, and so do Valencia CF and every Valencianista."