Valencia goalkeeper Vicente Guaita says Athletic Bilbao will pose a big threat in Saturday’s game at Mestalla.
Both sides occupy unaccustomed positions in the bottom half of the table but Guaita believes the Basques are a much better team than their League standing indicates.
“They are a great team and are very dangerous, but we are playing at home and we must be strong in front of our own fans to get the three points that are so important,” he told reporters.
With just two wins from the opening seven games it has been a disappointing start to new boss Mauricio Pellegrino’s reign at the club, but Valencia-born Guaita believes it is the players who must look at themselves.
“We have to be self-critical and when we get beat to know where to improve and get results, because we are all responsible for what happens.”
The 25-year-old is involved in a fierce battle with Brazilian international Diego Alves for the No 1 shirt in Pellegrino’s team, yet he is looking forward to the challenge.
“Diego has played to a very high standard when he has been with his national team. However, what happens is that I, as I’ve always said, want to continue to keep clean sheets so that I am always in the team.
“One day I want to be one of the players with most games for Valencia. That is my aim,” declared an ambitious Guaita, who reflected that the end of the season will be the time to assess both players’ performance.
He also accepts that there is already a big gap between Los Che and the top sides, maintaining that it is time it started to be reduced.
“Being at the top is a difficult task but we are not worried. Last year we finished third and we’ll try to do that again this year,” he added.
