Ten League games and four Cup games later, Athletic lost again. news Hugo Duro, who many years ago spoiled the party for the Bilbao team with his goal in the Cup semi-final in San Mamés, did his thing again by scoring a great goal with a header from a precise and beautiful lateral center from Gayà, things as they are.
It soon became clear that the lions were not having their day. His strategy responded more or less to what was expected, as did his method of implementing it. What is not counted is the offensive loyalty of the red and white team. Valverde himself made it abundantly clear at the end of the clash: “We lacked fangs.”
We have to trust that the Mestalla was just an accident. There are some actions that are a bit incomprehensible. Some antics, with and without the ball, are unusual for this Athletic. The day some red and white people believe themselves to be more than they really are, big trouble.
The red and white team, 1-0 at Mestalla on the side, should be fairly appreciated for what they have done so far. For a while at least, nothing was missed. The name of Hugo Guillamón, for example, has been in the Athletic orbit for years until, strangely, the arrival of this winter market. Since the footballer born in Donosti has a bigger role in Valencia and Valverde’s team is located at the top of the table and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Cup, no one thought about his possible landing in Lezama, and neither did he had an impact on the need for its inclusion.
More proper names
Nothing new on the horizon. The same can be applied to the cases of Odriozola, returning to Real after his time at Real Madrid; Azpilicueta, who only suffered a serious knee injury as an Atlético de Madrid player after ending his career at Chelsea; from Karrikaburu who, after leaving last summer on loan from Real to Alavés, joined Andorra a few weeks ago; what does the departure of Iñigo Martínez mean…
Far from getting worse, Athletic have improved throughout this season under Valverde’s guidance and with Lezama as a good supplier of genuine alternatives for the first team. Yesterday in the Mestalla, without going further, Vivian and Paredes repeated in the axis of the back, Beñat Prados played in the double pivot, Guruzeta the center forward and on the bench they waited their turn Unai Gómez, Imanol, Jauregizar, Adu Ares and Hugo Rincón, among others. This time it wasn’t, but trying the ones from home didn’t work.
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.
