Rodri slams Valencia's level at Mestalla: "They are very weak... awful"

Rodri Hernández could not hide his astonishment at Valencia's display in the fourth round of La Liga. The Barcelona midfielder, substituted in the 62nd minute with the score already 0-3, shared a scathing assessment of the home side with Pau Cubarsí, and cameras from El Día Después picked up every word from the away bench at Mestalla. His blunt remarks captured the gulf between the two teams on a night that left Valencia with one point from a possible twelve.

• Rodri described Valencia as "very weak" and "awful" during a conversation with Cubarsí.
• The midfielder asked how Valencia had finished the previous season and was stunned to learn they almost reached Europe.
• Barcelona were leading 0-3 when Rodri came off in the 62nd minute, on his first start for the club.
• Hansi Flick praised Rodri's leadership: "Everything he does makes sense. He is a real leader."

The Rodri and Cubarsí conversation revealed by El Día Después

The moment unfolded shortly after Rodri left the pitch to applause from a Mestalla crowd that often recognises Spanish internationals during the opening weeks of the season. Once on the bench, the midfielder sat next to Cubarsí and wasted no time sharing his disbelief at what he was seeing on the pitch.

Very weak. They are very weak, honestly. Very weak, mate. Very bad. They are awful, they are awful. How did Valencia finish last year?

The footage showed Rodri's face shifting between surprise and disbelief. When he was told that Valencia had come close to securing a place in European competition the previous season, the Spanish international was left speechless. Cubarsí's response at no point contradicted his team-mate's verdict.

The stats that back Rodri's tough verdict on Valencia

Valencia's start to the league season fully supports the impression Rodri voiced at Mestalla. Four rounds played, eight goals conceded and a single point on the board. The side coached by Rubén Baraja failed to get past the halfway line in the second half against Barcelona, a fact Rodri himself pointed out in his conversation with team-mates on the bench.

Look, they haven't even crossed the halfway line in the second half.

Barcelona's dominance was so overwhelming that Valencia barely troubled Ter Stegen's goal after the break. That inability to create any attacking football was particularly striking for Rodri, who had played an active part in building the away side's comfortable lead before his substitution.

Rodri's first Barcelona start and the ovation from Mestalla

The match in Valencia represented a personal milestone for Rodri Hernández. It was the first time the midfielder had started a game for Barcelona since joining the club. His response lived up to expectations: an outstanding performance at both ends of the pitch during the hour or so he spent on the field.

His withdrawal in the 62nd minute was preceded by a loud ovation from the Mestalla crowd, a gesture commonly seen in the early rounds of La Liga towards players who feature for the Spanish national team. The recognition from a rival fanbase underlined the respect that Rodri commands beyond club loyalties.

Flick backs Rodri's dressing-room leadership

Hansi Flick was generous in his praise for the player after the final whistle. The German coach highlighted the influence Rodri exerts on and off the pitch, a factor he considers vital to the balance of his squad. At 21, the midfielder developed in Villarreal's academy has naturally taken on a leadership role within the group.

Everything Rodri does makes sense. It is exciting. Not only on the pitch, but also in the dressing room. He is a real leader.

Flick's assessment confirms the trust the coaching staff have placed in the Spanish international since the start of the campaign. His display at Mestalla strengthens the belief that Rodri is set to become a key piece in Barcelona's project in the short and medium term.

Valencia's sluggish start: one point from twelve

The heavy defeat against Barcelona deepened the crisis at a Valencia side still searching for lift-off in La Liga. After four rounds, the club from Mestalla has one of the worst defensive records in the division. The fragility at the back and the lack of cutting edge up front paint a worrying picture for Rubén Baraja's team.

The contrast with last season, when Valencia fought for European qualification until the closing weeks, makes the present even more painful. Rodri's words, however harsh they sound, describe a reality that the stats and the league table continue to confirm matchday after matchday.