"Our aim is to qualify for the Champions League, but we do not think beyond the next game"

Following the departure of Vicente Guaita to Getafe in the summer, Diego Alves has been almost ever-present in goal for Valencia CF this season. The Brazilian has only missed one game in this campaign –when he pulled out in the warmup against Deportivo La Coruña- but does not consider his position guaranteed.



"I can’t take for granted that I am a permanent fixture in this side," he said in a press conference on Thursday. "It's like in other years. Now I have Yoel competing with me for a place. He is an excellent teammate and goalkeeper.At no time have I thought I am an undisputed starter; you have to work hardto play."



Should Alves start on Sunday, he will be up against an Athletic Club side who have been on a poor run of form –not that the VCF stopped does not expect a big challenge. "Sometimes teams go on a bad streak, but in football everything changesvery fast. We can’t overlook Athletic now, because eventually they will get back to winning ways. I just hope that they don’t do so against us,” he explained.



"They are missing Aritz Aduriz, who is an important player for their team and adds a lot on high balls and with tactics, but I’m sure Ernesto Valverde willknow how to handle this absence. It will be a tough game, and we areworking hard so that they don’t surprise us."



"That's our mentality, which demands hard work and sacrifice," said Alves."Last season and the season before we also had a competitive squad, but this season things are working out for us. Our aim is to qualify for the Champions League, but we do not think beyond the next game."

Alves continued that train of thought when asked about his recall to the Brazilian national team, for games that follow La Liga Matchday 10.



"I am happy to be returning to the team; it has been a long time now. I’ll try to make the most of it, but I must continue to perform at a high level for myclub. I want to finish off with a good game against Bilbao and then focus on Brazil."