“We have good players who will hit against the goal”

Valverde was very pleased with the victory achieved by his team, the first of the preseason after the draws achieved on Sunday against Mönchengladbach and Duisburg. “It was a good test. You can see in the first half with a high tempo, that both teams are really into it. The pressures are high and intense. We created scoring situations to clearly score. In the second half we were more effective. After the defeat we were able to react”, Txingurri pointed out in Gütersloh.

The lack of purpose has been a problem in recent years. The lions have scored four against a Bundesliga rival. Is it reassuring to score four goals? “I would like to say yes, but it’s not reassuring. This is a preseason game. Yes, in the sense that one day we created opportunities and we cannot change them. Now we have. You have to keep working. It is a matter of insistence. If we build, we have chances to score”.

The man from Gasteiz wasn’t worried about not taking advantage of the five chances his team had in the first period. “I was never unsettled. As for the construction, this is the most complicated. Then it is a question of success. We have good players to hit. If we create chances and don’t concede too much… We didn’t concede anything in the first half and in the second their goal came from us losing up front. We are interested in having the feeling that the enemy is not doing much to us and we are damaging”, he added.

Asier Villalibre scored two goals. This will certainly help the Gernika striker gain confidence after last season, where he had very bad luck with injuries. “Scorers live on sensations and scoring always helps you. He very well defined the two occasions. Every goal has its own goal, Raúl’s was a great goal. Also in the case of Iñaki. Those goals to top players always help them”.

Txingurri tested Iñaki Williams on the right wing today. On Sunday he played up front: “He’s aggressive in everything he does. He has great enthusiasm and it shows for what he gives us and for the anxiety he sends to the opponent while being so good. It was pretty much in line the other day, but now with a little more space.

The coach placed Sancet in midfield with Muniain a few meters ahead. Two quality footballers inside. “It’s a possibility. You have to try things. Oihan is an inside player who can adapt to both positions. It’s having two players with good inside play on the pitch even if Muni can play more on the flank. We’re in the process.”

Valverde will also try Dani García as a central defender, but he had to change his pace quickly with Peru Nolaskoain’s injury five minutes into the second period. “I want to try Dani García at the back and Peru at the front. The coup from Peru has arrived and it will not happen.” Do you see Dani García as a central defender? “It’s time to try things out. To see the children too. Adu and Luis Bilbao are good. This is a difficult game. It is time to do these things”, concluded the Athletic coach.