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Valencia coach Baraja: Celta Vigo draw a good point

Valencia coach Ruben Baraja was satisfied after their 0-0 draw with Celta Vigo.

Baraja insists they can be happy with the point.

He explained, "We understand that our fans came out in large numbers to support their team and didn't see a great game in terms of what we expected. We also wanted to have more clarity and fluidity, especially with the ball, because the game was going to demand that. Celta are a team that sit back and let you start moves. But in front of us we had a team who were very tough, tricky, organised, closed off and did not allow any movement.

"It was complicated. Our expectation was to win the game, but Celta also did a great job. In a hard match like today's, positive conclusions must be drawn. We have taken another point and we kept a clean sheet at home. We must also consider the difficulty of this competition and our objective. I would like to think about looking up the table, about ambition, about the team improving, about scoring a lot of points, but then the games come and today's was very difficult. We could equally have won or lost. It is a point that must be given value.

"We tried. You can't reproach the players for anything about attitude, desire or their push to win. We weren't as precise as on other days, but the opponents also retreated well and didn't leave any spaces, they were pressing and were consistent. It is not easy to attack a team that puts pressure on you like Celta do. The opponents play too, they make things difficult for you and we didn't have our best day in terms of ball circulation; we were also imprecise.

"This is also generated by the expectation regarding the consequence of the result. The most important thing is being able to win so that there is that consequence later. But sometimes this influences things. It is normal that there is that excitement in around the team, that people want more, but when the games are close and there are no opportunities it is good to continue gaining points."

On facing Rafa Benitez, Baraja also said: "We were talking after the game and I considered the draw a fair result, and I think the team competed very well. He was very excited to return to Mestalla and what we felt was very emotional.

"He is a coach who gave us so much, with whom we won trophies and coincidences had meant that he had not come back to Mestalla, and he was able to feel the affection of the Valencia CF fans, who made him feel at home."

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