Ernesto Valverde knows the importance of tomorrow’s game for Athletic. His team is playing with the possibility of playing a Cup final, big words in Bilbao. Before that, yes, they have to bounce back tomorrow in San Mamés against Osasuna after losing 1-0 in the first leg.
“Now it’s gone. This is the game, it’s the final and we have to try to win it from the start. Not with five minutes left. We’re losing and we have to come back. It’s the second half of the tie. , with We are at a disadvantage and “We have to try to overcome it. You have to play with everything. With the environment, with your heart, with your head,” Valverde pointed out.
The rojiblanco coach knows that “a lot is at stake and in these cases, knowing how to handle the pressure of the semifinal is important, especially in the dynamics of the match. In a match, in 90 minutes, there are many issue. that has to be dealt with in assimilation. If you score a goal, if you concede, if you get sent off… These are emotional situations that happen throughout the game and you have to try to overcome things that are not good for you and prolong the things that are good for you”.
Despite his previous explanation, Valverde considers that having more experience than the rival in this case of matches “is not an advantage because the illusion you have for playing in a final is what drives you to do it. Osasuna and we have a good chance to reach the final. The finals and semifinals we played before don’t count anymore, they are in the archive. What we are interested in is this, which can give us a chance to win the title. Just like them , they cling to an illusion and that’s what drives you. Another thing is knowing how to hold yourself in similar situations where you have a little stress so you don’t lose your head”.
Athletic has the environmental factor in its favor. San Mamés will dedicate himself to his team in this comeback attempt to participate in another Cup final. Valverde believes that the important thing, in any case, is what happens on the pitch.
“In general terms, at the end we have to focus absolutely on the game. to go for the game, but at the same time we have to focus on the game, on what we are doing and what we think can be good for us”.
The rojiblanco coach also makes another reading about the first leg clash at El Sadar. “I have the feeling that there were too many inaccuracies on the part of the two teams. It was a match in which it seemed that we were all fighting with the ball and it was the product of pressure. We have to overcome that.”
Regarding Osasuna, the Athletic coach expects “the same team from the whole season. Away from home there were stretches where he was very good, he won many games. He is not a rival to catch, but to stand up . It won’t be too different from San Mamés as they are. I hope for the best Osasuna”.
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.
