Hugo Duro: "The team have an incredible desire and we are a family"

Hugo Duro spoke to VCF Media after the match against Real Betis (4-2) on Matchday 14 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024-25. The Valencia CF striker, scorer of two of the team's goals, has analysed what happened in the first game played at Mestalla after the tragic flash floods that hit the province of Valencia.

“We were really looking forward to this game. We hadn't competed for a month and we'd hardly thought about football for several weeks. Thank goodness the matches were postponed, because we were focused on everything but football and it wouldn't have done us any good to play. This week we were calmer. The people have worked incredibly hard for a month. I think we deserved it for that work and for the people, who are really working hard".

"It was a difficult start. We had to go from that excitement to going down. The first play I almost couldn't even breathe. I think César's goal was good for us, but we were unlucky with their first goal, especially me. At half-time, the team took a step forward and it paid off".

It was difficult because going from a scenario like this, which we have never experienced -and I hope to never experience it again- to playing a normal football match, is tough.

The team started incredibly and in the second half, especially on a defensive level, the team didn't stop pressing and running. The centre-backs, the midfielders, we were all a team. This is how every game has to be if we want to win.

It's very hard. I think that when you experience this you realise that, in truth, you are a secondary character and that you are really nobody. The real heroes are off the pitch. We are entertainment because the real heroes were off it: The volunteers.

I saw how people walked two hours to help when they could have been at home. The truth is that I was surprised by how people responded.

"It's a very special shirt. The truth is that it's beautiful. I don't grab many braces either, so people should be prepared. I hope it's expensive for those people who need it. I hope they are all auctioned, as it is an incredible piece of memorabilia and we hope it will be unique".

"This victory is great for us to believe that, even though we have had a bad start, this team has life, strength, effort and sacrifice. We showed that last year. We don't have to doubt ourselves. We have shown that this team has an incredible desire and that we are a family".