Gayà leads Valencia reaction as captain shows unwavering commitment | OneFootball

José Luis Gayà’s commitment to Valencia is not in doubt. Now in his 14th season and with more than 400 appearances after shunning European giants, the captain has stepped to the fore over the past two games to spur a reaction. As reported by Superdeporte, his display against Deportivo Alavés and his work inside the dressing room have underlined that message.

In Vitoria he played with edge and intensity, relishing duels and urging team-mates on. His goal celebration, part release and part anger, reflected a player hurting yet intent on dragging Valencia away from the lower places.

This is one of his toughest spells as a Valencia player. He had been a substitute for three straight matches and faced criticism from part of the fanbase. It followed an insulting renewal offer from Ron Gourlay that would have pushed him to a very low salary tier, despite his willingness to make a major effort to stay.

Even so, his focus remains on hauling Valencia out of trouble. From minute one he backed interim coach Óscar Sánchez during this short transition until a new manager arrives, then led on the pitch in a key match to stem the bleeding.

He also showed he is physically ready to complete full games. In Vitoria he lasted 90 minutes at high tempo and defended strongly against the in-form winger Ángel Pérez, building on promising signs in Seville that were clouded by his error for Sevilla’s goal.

Source: Superdeporte

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