José Bordalás faced a tricky press conference. The SER revealed on Thursday that the Alicante player was unmarked from the planning of the January market due to discrepancies with the president and the sports management, with what this implies in a club where it rains on wet, and the match against Atlético Baleares was the excuse perfect to know publicly the position of the coach. The club gave fourteen questions and not one question was about the Cup match. In fact, for the match against the Balearic Islands, they were asked out of turn and out of respect for the Balearic club.
Bordalás chose the words well in each of his answers. He did not deny the information, although he did not want to burn the fault either. The Alicante wanted to be optimistic therefore awaits the arrival of reinforcements, although without mortgaging in their affirmations. Bordalás makes it clear that he does not decide, that this is a club thing. Neither decides on signings nor on the future of Wass. “I wish I could decide, but I’m not the owner of the club.” So Bordalás, without saying that he distances himself from planning, does remark that “I decide on my plot”.
Do you think the club is kidding you with the signings?
It is not a logical question. Now we are with the open transfer period. There are practically 15 days left and we trust they will arrive.
In December you spoke of an imminent meeting with Peter Lim that has not yet taken place, is it ruled out?
We had a program and due to the pandemic everything was closed, it was canceled and we decided not to do it. There is no need to give it more importance. We are in contact with the president and with the sports management. It doesn’t have to be anything weird.
Are the sporting approaches between you and the club so different that they cannot be understood in transfers?
It is not a matter of understanding. There is good understanding. I transfer some needs, I have said it on multiple occasions, and it is the club that makes the decisions. The club meets, they know the needs, the possibilities… I am the coach and I have to limit myself to training and nothing else. I know that work is being done to see if a footballer can finally be incorporated to help us. Players have come out and we need to balance the squad.
At some point has the president shown you understand the transfer market?
As a technician, I have transferred the needs or the positions to be reinforced to balance the squad. And the president makes the decisions. You have to value many things, not only economically but other things that escape me.
In your presentation you were asked a lot about the previous coach and you replied that you saw us as pessimistic and that you were more optimistic. Seven months later, are you just as optimistic?
I am an optimistic person and I never look back. I told you that at the time and I insist that there are 15 days left on the market and there are possibilities because we need it. The president and the sports management know it.
Has the club assured you that Daniel Wass is not going to appear in the January market?
I think the facts show the confidence I have in that footballer. He has played everything with me. He is a committed player, he has shown it and everything has been said. The club has to say.
Have you told Daniel Wass that he can go to Atlético?
I can’t tell you that because I don’t decide who stays and who leaves. He knows that he is an important player at the moment. I told him that I have full confidence and I cannot tell a player if he stays or leaves.
Ómicron does not avoid video calls, does it rule out any meeting?
I do not rule. It can occur at any time. I am open to dialogue and a situation.
Why has consensus been lost?
I can confirm that not at all. The meetings are there, obviously, they cannot be made public. I am not rooted in Aridane. Not at all. It was one more possibility, but the club decides according to some factors. I have never said yes or yes to this player. I can meet soccer players, as happened in the summer, I have never requested top players. Foulquier has come here because he knew him from Granada and knew he was regular; Hugo Duro who was a discard from Getafe; Alderete who didn’t come from playing… I only transfer the need to incorporate players to balance the squad and not have problems in this second round.
Has Wass told you he’s leaving or not playing anymore?
That the boy has not told me at any time. He has told me that he has an offer from Atlético and his idea was to be able to leave. But I don’t decide in those kinds of situations. I wish I could decide, but I am not the owner of the club. I decide on my plot, which is the coach’s.
Is the market over for you?
There are 15 days left and things can happen between now and closing. Let’s trust that footballers can arrive who can help us.
Seems like nothing happened this week, really? Can you tell us what happened?
I am being generous, because we have meetings and what is discussed inside stays there, and I cannot make anything public. It has not been my style. There may be discrepancies of opinion, that happens everywhere, but in the end, I repeat, as a coach I seek the best for Valencia and if I ask for something it is for the good of the team and the institution. There is nothing more to comment.
He has said that there is no need to talk to Peter Lim, that he is resigning…
I do not resign, but I do not call the meetings. If the owner wants to talk to me, we will do it without any problem. But I do not decide, I am in the day to day with the president and with Corona.
Do you contemplate that on January 31 no signing has arrived and how would you stay if it happened?
Let’s wait for February 1 and see what happens. But I still trust, because I am an optimistic person.
Other clubs have already been reinforced…
Perhaps other clubs have signed before, but I would have liked to have players before, of course. Not only the big ones are being reinforced, but also Alavés, Getafe… because nobody wants to be left behind. They all make efforts to strengthen themselves.
Excuse me, but out of respect for the Balearic Islands, how do you see the match?
We haven’t talked about the Balearic Islands. We are going to face a First Federation team, but very professional, who beat two First Federation teams, Getafe and Celta. We have a complicated and difficult game. We have casualties due to injury and covid. But we are going with all the enthusiasm to face this tie that would put us in the quarterfinals.