Luis Rioja: The team has given their all, and we hope to maintain this good form and drive next season.

Valencia winger Luis Rioja gave an interview to the club's official media after the team's 3-1 victory over Barcelona, which ended their season.  

Luis Rioja said: "The most important thing is to complete our own task first, and then see how the other games go. We did that, it was a hard-fought victory. After suffering a major setback, the team showed a very good reaction. Unfortunately, because fate is not entirely in our own hands, we ultimately missed out on European competition, and hopefully we can achieve that goal next season."  

“We were watching the points standings for the second half of the season, when we were fourth. However, the first half of the season is equally important, and the team needs to maintain balance and stability. We must react more quickly and show our fighting spirit from the start of the season, rather than waiting until we are in a crisis before we truly get into form. I hope the team can do that next season and remain competitive throughout the entire season.”  

“In the past, every time I came to Mestalla as the away team, I would enjoy the atmosphere but also feel the pressure. Because when the stadium really gets heated, it feels very difficult to take a victory away from here. Now I have experienced this for two consecutive seasons. Saying goodbye to a stadium like Mestalla is certainly regrettable, but I hope it is a step towards a better future, including a new stadium and new momentum to drive the club to continue to grow.”  

"I finished the season in good spirits. We beat Barcelona and I scored a goal. But to be honest, I'm not entirely relaxed because it's a mix of emotions. A very strong bond has been built between the team and the fans. We've always fought together, so I'll focus more on the positives. Missing out on European competition was a big blow for us because we firmly believed we could achieve our goal. The team gave it our all, and we hope to continue the energy and momentum we showed at the end of the season next season."  

Image source: Internet/Valencia official website