“The team is patient, we are trying to be a nightmare for the rival”

Ernesto Valverde breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew the whistle to end the match against Alavés. “I really enjoyed it, especially when it was over, like almost always. You need to be ready in case the enemy marks you. Despite trying to hold onto the ball, we didn’t have the fluidity to get to the top. Guridi’s turn and the punishment had arrived. We scored the goal and that was the score of the game. It wasn’t luck, but instead we had a good goalkeeper. From there we have dominated, they have suffered the blow and we have settled,” he noted.

All is well for his team. But this is not the result of fate. “There have been times when things have gone wrong when they were so good. They can go on and we don’t know what will happen. The script of the matches is set by the players with their successes and mistakes. Then we haven’t let them tie,” he added.

Today there is a break in the league before playing at the Santiago Bernabéu, the match before the Cup final. What worries you about the break? “The most worrying thing is that those who leave come back without any problems. The dynamic is unbroken in this break. The enthusiasm of the people runs its course, we are not strangers to it, but we have to focus on the game. Everything depends on what happens at the Bernabéu and on the pitch. “We have to focus on that, nothing else,” he stated.

Gorka Guruzeta exploded this season. The San Sebastian player has already scored 13 goals in the League. “I’m not surprised anymore, you can ask for more. I ask you He is having success, look for that success. He is different from Aduriz, who is more of a finisher. Guruzeta needs to play more, it is good for us that he comes into the game. Others kill you without entering the game, Guru enters the game, he can feel the flow of the game very well,” he explained.

“Things don’t just happen. If the team has one thing, it is that it is repeated, we try to be a nightmare for the opponent. We are happy with what is happening. Our defense was very good, they gave us very clear chances, but in the clashes we were strong and we conceded very little to the rivals. It’s good,” he added.

Oihan Sancet did not play. The question is whether he is ready to join the national team after Luis de la Fuente’s call-up for the friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. “He was fit, so he entered the list, he didn’t play, but we have very good players at Athletic. Unai and Muniain have played. If I’m not fit, I won’t be called,” said Txingurri.

Athletic placed fourth in the absence of Atlético to do it tomorrow against Barça: “The idea is to keep your position and try to improve it, so that it doesn’t get worse. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow at the Metropolitano. Fight we do what we can”.