Athletic, to perform as ‘Txingurri’ before the World Cup

It seems like it’s just the beginning, but we’re almost sixth in the League. This weekend, without club games, has been useful to stock up. New coach, even known. Trustworthy. And things are going well on the pitch. Good game, fast, vertical and purposeful. And young faces in the lineup. Fourth place and 13 goals in favour. Positive feelings and scandalous numbers: the best start in 35 years.

But “oh friend”, as Caparrós said, things are not so bleak if we examine the results more deeply. Cold numbers, in this case positive, hide other meanings. If the detail is examined, under the lens of the microscope, it will be convenient to remain calm and stay away from the deceptive euphoria.

What has been reaped so far is reaped. The ant has done what it had to do. Little can be faulted with him.

Home away from home, perfect. Txingurri was bold with his two exits from the supply zone near the anthill. Eight goals for, one against. Easy rivals, some would say. I’d rather not remember all the times we came back with our ears down and our tails between our legs from fields like that. And in Cádiz and Elche, in addition, Athletic were not satisfied with the promotion, they wanted more and scored. Ambition.

In San Mamés, the results were polysemous, although the message of the coach’s troops remained unchanged. The rojiblancos are the third team that finishes the most and the one that receives the fewest shots. Balanced.

The prelude against Mallorca seemed to rekindle old ghosts, but against a very settled Valencia, Athletic were commanding, and against Rayo full of offensive explosion. The defeat against the Spanish can be considered the exception that proves the norm, as well as the undeserved.