“”At some point this defeat for Athletic has to come”

Athletic lost again in League F eight days later. Madrid CFF narrowly won against a red-and-white team that didn’t have the best afternoon, but was definitely not on the scoreboard until about the 90th minute of the match. The lions thus lost ground with respect to third place in the table, as it gives them the right to play in the Champions League next season. Their rivals on Saturday are now in third position with one point ahead of Atlético de Madrid, two ahead of Levante and four ahead of Athletic themselves.

“Difficult match. We know that we are facing a team that has been in a top position all season, in their own field as well, and that is playing for a place in the Champions League. The result was once again fair, a goal difference. We could have even had the option of taking the lead in the second half, but… We continue working and excited about this team,” Aznar declared.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Madrid snapped Athletic’s seven-game winning streak, making it three in three. The red and white coach acknowledged in this regard that “in the end, at some point this defeat has to come. What is clear to us is that no one thought at the beginning of the preseason that we would end up in these positions and now that we are in the top positions, we are fighting on our own merits because many days have passed.”

The red and white coach is convinced of the possibilities of his young team. “We have the capacity and quality to continue fighting. We will do it until the last day and see what prize we can win, although for me the prize is already ours. We have the reward for a good job and we enjoy today to see the classification with optimism, able to look up and less concerned about other things. This is what we should value: the growth that girls experience.

Known rival

Athletic meets Madrid CFF for the third time this season. Both ended up losing in the League. However, in the Cup, the lions beat the Madrid team.

“The last experience, on Cup day, we were first on the scoreboard, but then we were very subdued for 80 minutes. Today (Saturday) was not that kind of game. I think we started the game not very well, with many accuracies and loses many duels: but we regrouped after the break, we came out with a different attitude and generates more things,” Aznar pointed out.

The Athletic coach indicated that “with that fatigue, trying to see who had the most desire to win the game, we conceded a goal from a set piece, something that could happen. We also had our choice to tie. I’m leaving very happy with the team’s attitude and, as always, proud of everyone’s work.”