Rayo Vallecano vs Valencia preview - Pizzi not blaming injury woe

Posted Saturday, March 01, 2014 by PA

Valencia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has declared his team's mounting injury problems can be no excuse for not taking all three points from their trip to Rayo Vallecano.

Valencia head to Vallecas just three days after sealing their passage to the last 16 of the Europa League with a 0-0 draw at home to Dynamo Kiev, but will be without captain Ricardo Costa, who had to be substituted in the second half of Thursday's game due to injury.

The Portuguese defender is far from the only absentee for Sunday's game, with Javi Fuego, Pablo Piatti and Oriel Romeu all injured, while Dani Parejo is suspended.

Such is the dearth of resources in midfield, Seydou Keita has been named in the squad, despite suffering from a nail infection.

But Pizzi refused to complain about the situation.

"If we are to keep aspiring to challenge at the top we have to deal with having players missing and we need to keep fighting against our opponents regardless," he said.

The Argentinian coach has been boosted by the return of Sofiane Feghouli, Federico Cartabia and Michel and hinted that 21-year-old midfielder Portu, who made his debut off the bench against Dynamo, could feature against Rayo.

"We believe Portu has adapted really well and is ready to play if we need him," said the coach.

Valencia have undergone quite a transformation under Pizzi and have risen to 7th in the Primera Division table, unbeaten in their last six matches.

Rayo, meanwhile, are looking more desperate than ever after their disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Sevilla last weekend, which left them five points from safety.

However, Pizzi insisted his team would not underestimate Paco Jemez's side.

"We will show them the same respect as we do to any other team," he said.

"I don't consider any game to be easy or that we have won or lost a game before we have played.

"Our dedication and the level of demand we place on ourselves is always the same, the level of respect and consideration is the same for every team."