The Valencia international admits the “uncertainty” generated by the four-game ban and celebrates his return to the national team
LAS ROZAS (MADRID), 20 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish international José Luis Gayà confessed that mentally he has had to be “very tough” to face the four-game ban that has prevented him from playing the start of LaLiga Santander, and he was “super grateful” for the confidence of the national coach, Luis Enrique Martínez, to play the two Nations League games against Switzerland and Portugal.
“I am extremely grateful and want to show the coach’s confidence. In the last three years I have had that confidence and that has helped me a lot to continue working and improving. Mentally I had to be very tough, I didn’t know what was going to happen the sanction and the fact of not being able to compete with my team. I’ve already turned the page and that’s going to help me learn”, he commented.
This was stated at a press conference by José Luis Gayà at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas (Madrid), where Spain is concentrated to prepare for the match of the fifth day of the League of Nations against Switzerland, which will be played this Saturday in La Romareda de Zaragoza, and the sixth against Portugal, on Tuesday 27 in Braga.
That sanction of four games for his statements after a Valencia-Osasuna in Mestalla criticizing the referee made him feed doubts. “But I knew that, when I came back, I had to give my best. I’m looking forward to continuing to show my football. It’s a position with a lot of competition, although whenever I play I try to give everything and that’s why I’m calm,” he said.
Despite having been called up for these League of Nations matches, Luis Enrique’s last list before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Gayà does not take his presence in the championship for granted. “It is not known if I am going to go to the World Cup. In my head it is to do it in the best possible way in these two games. With the renewal I have always said it, and there is no need to repeat it every time”, he indicated about his future in the set che.
In this sense, the Valencian international revealed that ‘Lucho’ has told them to ‘forget’ the World Cup, and that the internationals focus on qualifying for the final four of the League of Nations. “For Luis Enrique this competition is very important, and we are playing for qualification for the ‘final four’. We are going to prepare these two games in the best possible way, and then the World Cup will come”, he said.
“GATUSSO HAS GIVEN US A LOT OF CONFIDENCE”
He considered that “it is still very early” because only six days of LaLiga Santander have been played, but that his coach, Gennaro Gatusso, has generated “a lot of enthusiasm” for all the fans and the players “because of how he is and how he lives each match “.
“It is very intense, very close and has given us players a lot of confidence. We are seeing a version of Valencia with more confidence. Hopefully we will continue to give that level and be at the top,” the Levante club player wished.
With the competition on the left side, Gayà is aware that he cannot “relax”. “I have to give my best. We have started to prepare for the first game and then we will have time to prepare for the next one. They are two different teams and we have to be prepared”, he stressed.
With the side of FC Barcelona Jordi Alba indicated that he gets along “very well”. “We have coincided almost always and I see him looking forward to it, encouraging his teammates. He is an exemplary captain and I am very happy to share that position with him. Confidence is there, but we have to prove it to him. We have to give the best level so that you call again,” he stressed about Luis Enrique.
Regarding the atmosphere in the group, the Valencia winger stressed that Spain is a “very young” team, but one that combines experience. “That mix is very good for a team, and it’s the key to playing high-level competitions,” he celebrated.