Nicolas Otamendi has said Valencia have to do better in their away game with Villarreal than they did in their trip to Deportivo La Coruna.
Los Che have made a strong start to the season under Nuno Santo but it was checked in their last away game, when newly-promoted Depor romped to a 3-0 win.
Valencia recovered with a 3-0 win over Elche in the following fixture but with a trip to El Madrigal this weekend, Otamendi is well aware of the club’s stuttering away form.
“It is something to improve. We are very good at home but away games are costing us,” he said, AS reports.
“What happened to us at Deportivo can’t happen again. We hadn’t lost before then. That was a very hard week but we had our revenge against Elche.”
That Valencia’s next away game comes in something of a local derby was not lost on Otamendi, who suggested that regardless of the opposition, the goal remains the same,
“Derbies are for playing and winning,” he said.
“But we respect all teams equally. The goal is to finish in the Champions League places and to do that we have to add three points at a time.
“This is a squad that has been renovated with new and young players. It was hard to have a start like we have had.
“Based on work, sacrifice and taking each training session seriously we are getting results.”
Otamendi missed out on a place in the Argentina squad for the World Cup and admitted it stung, while also reflecting on his past experiences.
“It was a big blow because I was ready to go to the World Cup, where the best players are,” he admitted.
“I prepared well but it is the Coach who decides. Now you have to turn the page and start from scratch. I’m with Valencia now and I could get back in the team.
“Every team is different. I made a lot of friends in Argentina, then I went to Portugal and met a lot more South Americans. There were also good people in Brazil.
“In such a young locker room there is a lot of joy and music and camaraderie and it’s fundamental. I’m very happy today.
“It’s a pleasure to come to training. I know when you retire, everything that happened when you were a player seems foreign. So you have to enjoy every moment.”
Valencia are inching closer to a takeover by Peter Lim, who is said to be completing the final paperwork to take control of the club, and Otamendi welcomed the arrival of the businessman.
“He’s a very straightforward person. He speaks English, we’ll see if he can be taught to speak a little Spanish,” Otamendi said, wryly.
“We all know his history. He started from the bottom. We’re very pleased the sale is [almost] closed.”
