Ernesto Valverde He recognized that his team lost the victory against Mallorca after playing another for seventy minutes. “We played with a numerical advantage for most of the game. We couldn’t overcome their defensive wall and when we did, they didn’t allow two goals. They defended well, they closed the spaces for us inside , they forced us to center and they had strong players to defend. We didn’t take advantage of the chances. In the first half we didn’t do much risk to what we wanted, we lost a lot. In the second, it was difficult,” said the coach in the San Mamés press room.
Two points lost? “It’s like everything. Last year we played in Almería for a long time with another one and we didn’t lose two points, we won one because they gave us chances. We lack definition, the shot is more adjusted. Now we can be defeated by numerical advantage, but every day is a different game. We lack clarity.”
The Bilbao team didn’t take advantage of the set pieces either. “We faced one of the best in strategy. Direct situations in the center will be very difficult. The goalkeeper made a save from a shot Berenguer. We are a very high-strategy team compared to others, we don’t have the size of other teams,” he acknowledged.
The coach was also asked about the dismissal Samu Costa for a double yellow in the 23rd minute: “I don’t know, I’m not a referee, but what’s clear to me is that hit (Galarretta) never pretends. If they hurt him, they hurt him. I was surprised when they whistled hit”.
Yes He returned to the team after two months without playing: “Obviously he will join. Vivian It’s a bit full of matches. He is very attentive, he has work first Muriqi and learn and then with Muriqiwhich is worth two. He had to fight. Vivian He had to play in the second half because of us Walls with a card, I prefer not to take risks.”
The man from Gasteiz also appreciated the second place of First Simon in the Trophy Yashin and the fifteenth of Nico Williams in the Ballon d’Or “With Athletic players nominated for an award like this, it doesn’t happen often. They won with what they did in the team and the national team. Even though we don’t attach too much importance to these awards because football is a collective game, we are happy. That means things are going well.”
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.
