Valencia boss Gary Neville has made it clear that his primary focus is La Liga, not the Copa del Rey, ahead of Sunday’s visit of Sporting Gijon in La Liga.
Los Che set up a semi-final date with Barcelona in the cup after they disposed of Las Palmas 2-1 on aggregate midweek, but the former Manchester United defender is more concerned about ending his winless start to life in the Spanish top flight.
“We need everyone pulling in the same direction, so we can get the win we need,” he said at a Press conference.
“We’re focused solely on Sporting. It is a very important game and requires our full attention.
“We need to win at [Mestalla], and the fans are looking for a victory.
“We have to go with all our strength to make it a difficult experience for our opponents and fantastic for us.
“We’ve studied the calendar and we have 11 games over the next 35 days.
“It’s impossible to always play with the same XI. We need everyone because the schedule is very tight.
“The squad must be fresh and fit. We’re at a point where we have fewer injuries, so it’d be wrong to focus on only a few players.
“[On Barcelona getting an extra day off ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final], we would’ve liked to play on Thursday to rest more in the cup, but for now, we’re only thinking about the League.
“It’s important [to have Enzo Perez]. Enzo’s one of our older heads and he trains phenomenally.
“He gives everything and applies [this commitment] to games. It would’ve been great to have kept him on the pitch [against Las Palmas], but I didn’t want to take any risks.
“[On Rodrigo De Paul possibly leaving], it’s a very unsettling period and the past week has been crazy.
“I really like the boy and I’ve told him that. I’m glad I have a sporting director to discuss these issues with.
“[On links with Pedro Mosquera], I’m not thinking about anything else other than the next game.
“I’ve got to know [Sofiane Feghouli] in these six weeks and all I see from him is total commitment, and it’ll stay that way.
“He’s been training very well, first alone and now with the squad. Even when he was injured, he was the first one in the dressing room.
“I’ve talked to him about how he’s felt since his injury and everything is positive.
“It was a hard time for him, but now he’s well and always wants to be in the team.”
