Valverde’s idea seems clear. Zarraga and Herrera started: vertical game, looking for deep passes on the big mat of the Blaugrana Coliseum. The key is to hit the spaces that Barça are expected to leave, and run with the Williams brothers. The driving and dribbling of Muniain and Sancet was left for another day. In Barcelona speed is needed: thinking, passing, clearing and running.
But this is what the board has, that it endures everything until the first whistle. After Martínez Munuera’s whistle, faces changed. The rojiblancos didn’t even smell the skin of the ball. It’s embarrassing. They dedicated themselves to chasing the shadows, again, and more than 20 years ago. It’s like chewing pebbles or biting open oysters. One two Three. Dembèlè gave a full football lesson to the band. Within 20 minutes the fish was sold and packaged. Ready to go.
The bag full of goals, and luckily Xavi relaxed and did not want to make more blood. It was like a ‘dejavu’ from the last Cup final against the Catalans. For the first time this season, Athletic did not compete. It is diluted without opposition, without character. Like a simulated fight you know when you’ve lost and on top of that it causes you two injuries -the worst of the night-.
Surprise? Well, no, what do you want me to tell you? This usually happens against the big ones. It’s normal to lose, and even to receive a win, but what Athletic did on Sunday was very hard to swallow. Big disappointment. We didn’t compete, everything went wrong. There was no reaction and, worse, during the game no one expected, not even the players.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
