Ernesto Valverde there is a real dilemma this week. The coach acknowledged on Thursday in Lezama that they have played the season with fire with only three center backs in the first team and without even stating the obvious he pointed out that a fourth is needed for the next campaign, with four competition at stake, League. , Cup, Europe (possible Europa League with Champions League almost impossible) and Super Cup. The next day, he experienced the worst possible scenario at the Getafe Coliseum. Yes He was sent off in the 58th minute for blocking a counterattack with his hand and Walls He also had to go to the locker room in the 79th minute for a double yellow. Neither of them will be in San Mamés on Saturday to face Osasuna in what amounts to matchday 35 of the Liga.
Added to this is another serious problem. The doubt of Dani Vivian. Gasteiztarra, the second field footballer with the most minutes in the regularity tournament – was surpassed by Inaki Williams on Friday -, dropped out to deal with the Bordalas due to low back pain. His physical condition needs to be checked now when the team returns to work (11 hours) after a three-day rest, but Txingurri cannot have any of the three centre-backs he has in the team. A big problem with receiving rojillos.
The best possible scenario is for Gasteiztarra to recover. In that case, he just had to improvise a footballer for the defense axis. At the Coliseum, he delayed the position of Beñat Prados, who became the starter in the engine room next door. Ander Herrerawhen the referee Gil Manzano He showed Barakaldo a straight red card. This seems to be the most feasible alternative, although the technician can also pull Mikel Vesga If you prefer a left-handed player join They lived. The ‘6’ also had to line up in that position when Paredes left the game. Athletic finished with two central midfielders. However, he endured many attacks from the Madrid team, which did not even close the gap to one First Simon cannot be measured under the sticks.
Other alternatives
Other first-squad alternatives will come through Yuri Berchiche, Dani Garcia and Lekue, but for this we also need to consider the left side. The Zarautz player was also unable to travel to Madrid due to an injury sustained against Granada after a tight tackle by Bruno Mendez who deserved only a yellow card, as happened in the last match of the previous season played at the Bernabéu with another very difficult action by Dani Carvajal. The former PSG player has already acted as a central defender in the side Peru Nolaskoain in the clash against Cayón in the second Cup tie, but the logical thing is that if he recovers he will occupy his natural position.
Valverde has also placed on several occasions Lekue in the axis of the defense, but they counted for minutes, although in December he noted that he also saw him in that position: “He is having a great season and insurance for us in many ways. he performs in any position, he can play as a center back.” Dani Garcia is another alternative. Txingurri put him in the middle of the rearguard in the preseason friendly against Mainz 22-23. He did the same to Herrera against Necaxa in Mexico last summer which surprised everyone and everything.
The other options come from the reserve team, although the coach is not very supportive of giving the youngsters an alternative when there is this kind of emergency. Egiluz He usually trained with the first team, but he played only one game as a lion, against Rubí in the premiere of the KO tournament, and he also missed Bilbao Athletic this weekend due to some ankle discomfort that was not in great importance. It is not ruled out that he will be with the ‘seniors’ during these times. From Luis He also had to be substituted in the 15th minute of the reserve team’s match against Brea and Duñabeitia He trained last week with Txingurri, but has yet to make his debut.
The coach has a real problem on the table to build the defense against Osasuna. A lot depends on Vivian’s physical condition. If Gasteiztarra is to recover, he will have to ‘invent’ a central defender. Otherwise, two. A puzzle.
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.
