Gourlay defends Valencia's stability and backs Corberan after the transfer window

Valencia CF

Valencia CF's project must be built on stability and long-term planning. That is what Gourlay argued during his appearance, in which he ruled out both his resignation and a change on the bench, and reiterated the backing of the board, the ownership and the executive himself for Carlos Corberán.

“The situation is that the coach has the full support of the board, the ownership and me. It is part of the strategy of the project, which requires stability and trust. It has been a difficult start to the season, but we will turn the situation around”.

Gourlay recalled that the objective conveyed by the president is “to improve, move forward and keep going”. The team finished last campaign in ninth place and fell just short of European competitions. The intention, as he explained, is to surpass that mark and assess the situation at the end of the season.

A transfer window shaped by injuries and the FPF

The executive described squad planning as an especially complex process due to long-term absences and economic restrictions. Valencia had 25 players, four injured and three of them goalkeepers, a situation that forced the club to look for replacements for key positions.

Diakhaby's injury and the limitations of Financial Fair Play also affected the decisions. The club signed Dieng, De Haas and Sato, three deals which, according to Gourlay, were completed before the market reached its final phase. Two of those signings did not require paying a release clause, and waiting until June would have made the operation more expensive.

Valencia also renewed Stole and signed Guido as a free agent. The arrival of Elliot was presented as the final piece of the process, with the role of providing the last pass to the forwards. Gourlay highlighted his quality, his ambition and his willingness to help the dressing room.

The Valencia executive denied that Marvin Duschk and Etta Eyong were genuine targets in the final hours. He said the club held between 40 and 50 conversations with players during that stretch of the window, although not out of interest in those two names. With Elliott, he added, the club was at the limit of the FPF and remained alert to a possible exit that would free up margin.

“If we talk to people it's because we talk; if we don't talk, it's because we don't”.

Regarding the capacity of the team he manages in the sporting area, Gourlay defended the decisions made and noted that in the last 13 months there have been 23 transactions. He also pointed out that the club identified a standout player from Japan six months ago and started working on bringing him in at that time.

“You only see what's on the surface, but there's a lot more behind it too...”

Trust in Corberan and rejection of resignation

Gourlay defended Corberán's continued role despite the pressure that exists and part of the fanbase's opinion. He admitted that during the season the need to change things was raised if results did not come, but he believed the coach could overcome the obstacles halfway through the campaign.

The executive linked the difficulties to the departures of Mamardashvili, Mosquera and Barrenechea, as well as the adaptation of the new players. In summer, nine footballers left the club and eight arrived. He also stressed that the signings of Guido and Sadiq helped during the second half of last season.

Gourlay divided Corberán's spell at Valencia into three phases: the first six months, in which he helped the team out of a difficult situation; the first part of last season, shaped by the challenges and the exits; and the second half of that campaign, when performance improved noticeably. According to his analysis, the team finished ninth, although they would have been third if only that second stretch had been taken into account.

The start of the current campaign, he acknowledged, has not been acceptable. He also said two of the three matches were played with only a few days' rest and in very hot conditions, although he insisted that he wants to complete the three-year project, structured around four transfer windows.

“I don't resign, because it would mean a long wait and the coffee would cool down... I like that it's football that explains the situation”.

When asked about internal demands, he said the club needs competitiveness and that everyone must work in the same direction. He also asked for time to build a base with a perspective of the next ten years, without changing every season, nor the project, nor the coach.

José Gayà's contractual situation was left out of the details. Gourlay limited himself to saying that the captain will continue to be a Valencia player and that it is not his place to discuss the terms of his contract.

“He is the captain of the team, of this club. Everyone respects his role and it's not appropriate to talk about these details of his contract right now”.

Nou Mestalla and the project's structure

The executive pointed to the Nou Mestalla and the development of the academy as two pillars of Valencia's strategy. The new stadium must open a path to generate revenue, while the new academy building will allow the club to keep developing homegrown talent. In his view, both issues are part of the necessary structure to aim to improve the team on the pitch.

Gourlay explained that the FPF limit depends on a figure set by LaLiga based on the club's income. For that reason, the club has changed its recruitment model and is trying to be more efficient in its signings, as he believes the arrival of three players in this window demonstrates.

“I always want to win, like Valencia CF. To do things properly, you have to compete and fans should see the hunger of the players”.

Regarding doubts about the absence of a specific sporting director for Spain, Gourlay said he has concluded that it is not necessary because the club has an appropriate sporting structure. He also defended the work carried out since he arrived and recalled that he has 35 years of experience across different clubs.

“What would not help at all for this project is changing the project every year. Neither the coach. It would also not help to comply with the FPF, which is so important”.

The executive denied that Peter Lim has financially abandoned Valencia and linked the club's future to progress on the Nou Mestalla. He believes the project is close to a decisive phase and that once the stadium is completed, there will be no room for excuses. In any case, he insisted that the immediate goal is to correct the poor performance and win matches.

Gourlay acknowledged that the club is going through a transition phase and that it currently cannot compete under the same conditions as six or eight years ago, when its valuation was double or triple. He also admitted the frustration of the fans and said Valencia will do everything possible to change the situation.

“I perfectly understand the incredible legacy of this club. I understand the frustration of the fans and all I can say is that we will do everything possible to correct the situation”.

On recent performance, he asked not to judge only the last three matches and recalled the final stretch of the previous campaign. He admitted his disappointment after the game in Coruña, but said that episode is already behind them. He also pointed out that he understands the fans' concern about another difficult season, although he defended the idea that football does not deliver immediate results and that the club must focus on what is coming next.

“First of all, welcome to football, because these are things that happen. Football is like that, not a simple journey”.

Gourlay's final message kept in line with the rest of his remarks: to stick to the plan, fix the problems from the start and move forward without breaking the structure that has been built. “The important thing is to be on this ship together”.