Athletic got the better of Espanyol in the Cup’s round of 16 clash. Valverde He was satisfied with the victory at the end of the match. “The result was fair but only one goal ahead, you thought they would always score. We dominated the first half, we had many arrivals. They are behind, waiting for a counter or a one-step strategy. In the second half they pressed especially at the beginning, but we controlled the game but we could not kill the game”, the coach pointed out.
The rojiblanco team has taken 17 corners, luckily in which Athletic has yet to score. “It’s true that with corner kicks we lose clearer goal situations. Everything was set, but it was increasingly difficult to score from a free shot in a corner. Sometimes the goal comes in a second play or a hairstyle. We already have a lot of control and we’ve been there many times. It’s good for us,” he added.
The team scored only one goal and it was difficult for them to convert their chances. “We’re not going to put what we should now. We’re in the hype of the quarterfinals, it’s to be happy. It’s true that we need a lot of formers to score, but it’s about making goals and winning victories. We’re being a supportive team. Our defense is good and strong. We are happy, if we score we have to take the goal we got as a number. It is true that there are things we can do better, but we are happy,” he said.
“There are people who see it as bad that we don’t finish and others see the positive side in the number of times that come. The times we arrived, the rival did not. That means we have a lot of dominance. It’s better to stand here in the press room after taking 17 corners than having only gone to one”, he stated regarding his team’s performance.
The coach has no preference for the quarterfinals: “Playing at home or away, what we want is to go through. For us the important thing is in the next round. We’ll see what the hype is about. In any case, a League match is not the same as a Cup match. Wherever you play, you have to go and win”.
From Marcos He scored the goal to advance to the quarterfinals: “It’s important for us. He persevered through the entrances. We are happy with him,” he concluded.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
