'Victory will spur Valencia on'

Valencia CF coach Quique Sánchez Flores took confidence from his side's performance as David Villa's 63rd-minute strike earned all three points in their Group B opener against FC Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen. The win took Valencia to the top of the section after Chelsea FC were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Rosenborg BK in the night's other Group B tie. Schalke coach Mirko Slomka watched the game from the stands as he served a suspension and his assistant Oliver Reck expressed Schalke's disappointment.

Oliver Reck, Schalke assistant coach
I think we started well and controlled the midfield, but we wanted to put them under more pressure and use our forwards more and that didn't work out as planned. Valencia then managed to take the pace out of the game, but as we knew they are very strong in attack and that proved decisive. Of course, we're disappointed with the result. Valencia played a clever game after taking the lead and we didn't manage to create any more chances. They made it very difficult for our forwards after that. It didn't work out for us today, but heads up, life goes on!

Quique Sanchez Flores, Valencia coach
Compared to our recent matches we have improved. We were well co-ordinated and well aware in defence and did not allow them many chances. We knew it would be difficult for us because we have played so many games recently. I'm very pleased we were able to play so well today. That will give us motivation and will spur us on. I don't want to single out any player in particular, we have been stronger as a collective than before and that's what matters most to me. We have to focus on doing our job - it doesn't matter if you finish first or second in the group. Regardless of the result from the Chelsea game we took our first step today.