I, at least, still hope to see the best version of Ander Herrera at Athletic, really. Even in this season where there are still important duels to be played. Hopefully the midfielder from Bilbao will be hooked in the decisive stretch of the season and become the key, differential player he was called to be when he was brought in in the summer.
I must admit that I never thought I would write the Herrera code again as an Athletic player. Although this is one of the names that always rings in the future rojiblanco, I thought it was an operation that would never happen. Both on the part of the Bilbao club and on the part of the player himself, who, although he left as he left (he was on his right, it was more lost), because of the statements he always made when asked about it , gave the feeling that Bilbao was a phase that had closed.
I was wrong. Herrera returned to Athletic, not without difficulties. It even became “desperate” for the player himself. He met her at the presentation press conference.
Announced at the end of August, it became the second reinforcement after Gorka Guruzeta. Another detail where I got Herrera wrong was the reception he received from the red-and-white fans. The rojiblanco club did it in San Mamés and almost 2,000 fans came out on August 28 to welcome him with applause and no scolding. Perhaps it helped that the event, with free admission for the public, coincided with the Aste Nagusia celebration. And they all finished the long line outside the stadium and met at the bottom of one of the stands as they entered the field.
Irregularity
It is a fact that Herrera is not having the regularity he wants. The injuries are not allowing him to have continuity, let’s not fool ourselves, Valverde, when he is expected, he was not made a starter either.
Sure, it’s all related. It’s a shame because I think he’s a player who still has things to contribute on the field. But the data is devastating.
Herrera has not completed a full game since November 6, 2021. That time was the match corresponding to the thirteenth day of the French Ligue 1, when he wore the PSG shirt. At Athletic, in its second phase, so far, nothing.
There is one detail that puzzles me a bit. It was in the press conference after the club announced that it will continue until at least 2024. What we all thought was news, Herrera himself, with a serious face, unusual for him, when he faced the media, faced this. the bud.
“This is not news. When I arrived, I knew I would be here for two years. The official status is a bureaucratic issue”, fixes the man from Bilbao.
“Ever since I left Athletic I know how special this club is. This club marks you. You will leave Athletic, but Athletic will not leave you. And I say that without being ‘athleticzale’ from birth. It is lucky to be here and the second phase here is incredible”, he summed up the day of his presentation.
Herrera isn’t there, but, I’m insistent, I’m waiting for him. It wouldn’t be a thing on any other Thursday.
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.
