Aguirre warns Valencia against complacency before Tavernes cup tie

“We have everything to lose and everything to gain,” Javier Aguirre warned ahead of Valencia’s Copa del Rey match against Tavernes. Speaking at a press conference, the coach stressed the need for a serious approach to Wednesday’s game at Mestalla against a team from the Lliga Comunitat FFCV. He said the occasion would be a celebration for Tavernes, while Valencia also have an opportunity to find a better run of form.

Aguirre does not regard the cup as a distraction. “The cup never gets in the way,” he said, stressing that Valencia must compete in both competitions. He acknowledged that his team had not performed in the Liga and that its numbers were insufficient. In his view, the cup gives the squad a chance to start again with the same enthusiasm it has for reconnecting with the league campaign.

The coach also said the club needed to improve its results quickly. He hopes the match will help prepare for the next Liga fixture, against Elche at the Martínez Valero on Sunday. “We’re eager to improve, work hard and get that first win,” he said, describing the results as too poor for such devoted supporters. He also wants the cup tie to help keep his whole squad involved and sharp.

The difference in level will not change his approach. Aguirre said he would not accept complacency or any underestimation of the opposition. “If you switch off and look down on your opponent, you can get a shock.” He said he would reprimand any player who showed Tavernes disrespect, whether through an unnecessary piece of skill or excessive celebration. “We have to be responsible, respect the opponent and play with the utmost seriousness,” he added.

Aguirre intends to field the best team possible and wants the match to be useful ahead of Sunday. He said four or five reserve-team players were with the group and that he would try to give them playing time. On Stole, he said the three players under discussion were available, without revealing who would be selected.

The cup also carries particular meaning for Aguirre. He recalled reaching two finals and losing with teams he considered inferior to their opponents: Mallorca against Athletic and Osasuna against Betis. Those defeats—one after extra time and the other on penalties—left him with a lingering regret. He is approaching this new opportunity with great enthusiasm: “We all start from zero […] We have to take the first step tomorrow.”