Until recently, following the Athletic meant suffering. Matches that seemed to be controlled with a comfortable and favorable result for the red and white, ended with the players asking for time and the spectator on the verge of a heart attack. A situation where we went from anger and even anger to not being able to calmly enjoy the match without fear of losing the victory, to a feeling of relief and absolute satisfaction for getting three points despite the suffering.
However, things seem to be changing to the surprise of myself and I think many other athletes. Although it is perhaps too early to say that the trend is changing, in Athletic’s final games there is no room for nervousness and worry.
Against Rayo Vallecano everything was fun, fun and calm. The team was solid, confident and efficient and quickly settled the match against a Madrid team that did not put up much resistance. This past Thursday against CD Cayón, in the Cup, everything went to the same line and the match had moments of boredom for the audience due to the absolute dominance of Valverde’s team and the lack of spectacularity in the game. A situation that surprises us and we cannot get used to. -The keys to calmness- In my opinion, this transition from suffering to calmness is due to several issues. From the start of the season, the team has gone from strength to strength to now project an image of consistency and maturity that brings peace of mind to fans. The offensive line is having its best moment, which translates into goals and, in almost every case, points and victories.
In the middle of the field; Valverde found his trusted duo (Mikel Vesga and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta) more than delivering and distributing the game like a charm. At the back, despite mistakes and criticism, Athletic’s defenders are improving their defensive solidity. In goal, Unai Simón is a real wall that has saved the team on many occasions and exudes calmness and security.
A combination of players and coaches, in other words, who have created a solid and mature block that knows how to control games without going through too much trouble. A mature team that makes the audience happy and just needs to stay strong until the end of the season to, this time, get into Europe. Tomorrow, without walking any further, he has another chance to advance on Granada.
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.
