Haritz Mujika defined Etxebe’s Eibar

Athletic have a tough opponent to reach the round of 16 of the Cup. Eibar is one of the top teams in the Second Division with the aim of moving up to the First Division after two disappointments suffered in the previous two seasons, when it was left out of the promotion gates.

Haritz Mujika, the former coach of Amorebieta, defines the main characteristics of the gunfighter for MD. His team lost in Lezama against those led by Joseba Etxeberria. “It became less. This was seen in the results. In defense it is strong, with experienced players. This is a team that serves the ball well. Then they have a very good midfield, with two pivots and ahead of them Aketxe and Soriano. At the top they have decisive men like Stoichkov and Baptist. This is a team that defends very well and also has players who are very dangerous in attack. They are very offensive when they have the ball,” said the Gipuzkoan.

“They have a typical eleven. When the full-back is not available, he brings in Corpas, who is a converted winger. They have a lot of experience, they play the ball very well from the back and they know how to play very well. The three above, Stoichkov, Aketxe and Soriano, they are not balanced. They are footballers with many punches. Aketxewith the punch it has, and Stoichkov, which appears to be all attacking zones and only sees the goal and area, does not balance opposing defenses. They had a good season, hopefully the second round will be better. It was difficult for them at first, then they had a great run. The Second is very complicated, I think it will be until the end of the season, trying to climb the promotion positions,” he added.

Mujika Eibar is characterized as a very offensive team. There is a reason they are the second highest scoring team in the silver division: “They are a team that presses high, they are aggressive and the defense accompanies the pressure. Against Athletic they will try to use high pressure to try to steal. This is a team that manages the wings very well, it has players who put in good crosses like that Aketxe on the right side and on the left side the two sides, the same Queen’s Rivers number christian. They’ve come so well and they’re on top Baptist, Quique and Stoichkov, which always enters the area. That’s where they pose a danger. “Athletic has to be careful because Eibar is a team that comes in a lot, with a lot of players, with players who are very good in the center, especially on the left wing.”

The coach sees the tie as “even”. “Ipurua will be eliminated, I think it will be a very close tie. Athletic’s situation is very good, in the League they are very big a very good game, but I think this match will be completely different from matches they will see in the League. Eibar are very plugged in. It will be a day of celebration, the players will be very motivated. Ipurua have smaller dimensions, with a very close stance. There will be chances for both teams, the one who is most successful will win. It will be a very even match, Eibar will put pressure, trying to push from the first minute. Athletic will obviously struggle, the beauty of the Cup is this. There is always fear of losing to an inferior team in a difficult field. In football anything can happen. Athletic will have a good opponent in front of them, with quality players. “It will be difficult,” he added.

Different from Garitano’s Eibar

Mujika Considering that this Eibar is different from the one coached by Gaizka Garitano in the past two seasons. “The players haven’t changed much, but I think as a team they have changed when it comes to being brave, going out to play, pressing even when winning. This is a team that, even when winning, continues to play the same thing, trying to score more goals, to be higher. The change of Etxebe It’s been good for them mentally, especially for players who have been playing for years. ‘Tandang’ always has enthusiasm, he sends it off wonderfully. At first it was difficult for them, it’s normal when you have the same approach for many years, but you can see that this is a good team and it will go up,” he said.

One of their franchise players is Ager Aketxe, the footballer who trained in Lezama who played 34 games as a lion. Do you consider yourself a First Division player? “I don’t know if he is a First Division player, the categories are there for something. He’s had his chances in the First Division and less than a few minutes, now he’s getting them. Etxeberria This gives him the confidence he needs. Last year he played a few starting games, but this year Etxebe It gave him the confidence to catch the ball. All the set pieces are for him and he also gets involved in the game a lot, receiving in intermediate zones. He needs to continue to show that the category is too small for him and that he can play in the First Division. This year he showed that he is at a high level,” he says.