Ron Gourlay's message to the Valencia dressing room: more leadership, more competition "against 14 or 15 teams," and Europe will be a requirement for opening the Nou Mestalla.

Ron Gourlay arrived as Valencia 's general director of football three months ago and is already facing his first crisis. Defeats to Oviedo at Mestalla and Girona have opened a rift between fans and the team, which the Scotsman sought to mend with a message of unity that reached everyone, from supporters to players. However, for an hour and a half, he reiterated his confidence in the squad and coaching staff, demanded a final judgment at the end of the season, sought to shake off the weight of Meriton 's past at the club, and reluctantly acknowledged that the demand to return to Europe is not in the cards until the season of his move to the Nou Mestalla , scheduled for 2027/28.

"I understand the fans' frustration when things aren't going well, but we're in a period of transition . We've identified the challenges and now it's about addressing them," he explained. "I've been in football for many years, and this team isn't in the league table where it deserves to be. But the coach, the players, and the staff are very clear about our goals, and I have no doubt we'll evolve as a team. The unity of the team is incredible, and Carlos [Coberán] did an important job last season and will do so again," he summed up.

What are those mistakes? Gourley points to the "22 transactions" that took place in the summer transfer market, which left players without preseason training, but also, albeit timidly, pointed to the players themselves. "We have to evaluate match management, why we concede in the final minutes. The players are committed, but they have to be committed every minute. We must be more competitive and we have to learn to kill off matches ," he concluded.

That's the job of the coach, whom Gourley describes as the man with the authority in the locker room. "We're in the early stages of this transition phase. The team has a coach who's very capable of handling things in the locker room, and I speak to him every day. I'm the boss, and I could play that card, but it's not necessary . I have absolute confidence in the players and the manager. We need men, not boys. Leaders . This isn't the time to point fingers at anyone, and Carlos has the full support of the club. No one is making things right for him, because that's a mentality that isn't allowed at this club," he stated.

The new CEO, who claimed to have dedicated 80% of his time at Valencia to the market, wanted to shake off Meriton 's unfulfilled promises during his decade at the club. "I can't answer for the past. Making promises in football isn't good, but you have to be competitive, aggressive, and brave. I will be judged at the end of the season. Now we have to stay calm and set goals we can meet. It's very important to be realistic and remember that there's no magic and there are no secrets. Everyone at the club wants to be in Europe. But we have to win it by being competitive in every game," he insisted.

Gourley insisted on the "five to ten-year" plan the Lim family has outlined for him to grow the team, the academy, "very important for the club's stability," and the expectations generated by the new stadium. Reaching the Nou Mestalla in the best possible sporting condition seems to be the goal.

"The Nou Mestalla is very close, and we want to have an excellent squad when we open it. We have four transfer windows to make the team stronger, one lasting a month and the other interrupted by a World Cup. It won't be easy. We need time, but we're all committed. I don't judge the past. I'm focused on what will happen in the next two or three years, and I'll be judged then. I have the president's support to take the club forward, and I've been given the tools," he acknowledged, without being able to avoid the talk about returning to European competition.

"I'm not going to promise that we'll make it to Europe . You don't just walk into a club and be in Europe in four months. We don't have a magic wand. It's important to recognize where we are. We can't compare ourselves to four or five clubs, who have a higher financial level, but we should be competing against 14 or 15 clubs," he warned.

For Gourlay, the moment when Europe will be essential is clear: "I believe that in a stadium of the caliber of the Nou Mestalla, we must be in Europe. I came to work at Valencia to ensure that the new Mestalla will be played in Europe ," he insisted. That, according to the club's plans, should happen in the 2027/28 season, because the new ground is expected to be ready by July 2027. Therefore, there remains this entire season and the next to achieve that goal. It fits with the four markets also mentioned by the CEO, who now asks for "patience" and unity from the stands.

"We need the energy of Mestalla. We know that if we do our job, there won't be any boos, but that can only be achieved together. I'm sorry if you've heard similar words to mine before, but I'm optimistic, and we have the tools, the quality. We're all feeling the frustration now, the players too, but, without giving dates, I know we'll see improvement. I see the light at the end of the tunnel ," he assured.