Aguirre discovers Otorbi and Raba: “I didn’t know them at all”

“I didn’t know Otorbi and Raba at all,” Javier Aguirre admitted after his first match in charge of Valencia. The Mexican coach also praised the performances of the two players, Raba and Otrobi, who scored for Valencia. He said he had first seen them play in training.

Aguirre welcomed the point earned on his debut and judged the draw to be fair. “I think the draw is fair. A late goal from Hugo Duro would have been unjust for them,” he said, adding that his side had been serious and united. He also felt the substitutions had brought a lot to the team and that Valencia might even have taken more from the match.

The new coach also paid tribute to Racing, describing them as a good team that came out “like planes”, and congratulating their coach on what his side showed on the pitch. He noted, too, the backing of a crowd that, in his view, had put his team under strong pressure.

Aguirre did identify spells when Valencia seemed to switch off, allowing Racing the chance to fight back. “At times we gave an impression of fragility. We still need more work,” he said, while also noting that the team had recovered its energy and desire to play.

On Raba, he recalled that the forward had gone more than a year without scoring before this match and praised his goal. Aguirre also felt he had worked hard, despite missing a chance late in the game. He ended by urging Valencia to be strong at home with the support of their fans, and said his team would continue to compete in Liga.