Valverde Reflects on Atlético Match: “The Objective of the Team is Clear”
Athletic’s defeat in the metropolitan area was a tough pill to swallow, but manager Valverde remains positive, noting that the game was more even than the score suggests. “The control of the game is given by the control of the areas, and they’ve succeeded when we were well positioned on the field,” he explained. In general, we’ve been good, and we’ve shown our face. Our first clear chance was a good one, but they managed to penalize us when we had some losses. As the game progressed, I always felt like something was about to happen, and unfortunately, it happened in our goal rather than theirs.
Creating Opportunities
Valverde emphasized the importance of generating chances, saying, “When we played in San Mamés, the game was very closed, and they didn’t want to give us anything. They played long, and in the end, they surprised us because they’re a surgical team.” This time around, Valverde’s team was clear that any loss could be costly, and they pushed hard to get a victory that ultimately didn’t materialize. “We’ve had a few losses, but we’ve also had some good moments. We’ve tried to always give our all, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
Satisfaction with the Team’s Performance
Despite the defeat, Valverde is satisfied with his team’s performance, saying, “Our team always shows up and gives it their all. We’ve done everything possible to win, and I think we’ve made a good game.” He acknowledges that football is a complex sport with many facets, and one of those facets is success. “We try to always give our best, and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” he added.
A Lost Opportunity for the League
Valverde doesn’t want to dwell on the lost opportunity, saying, “I’m not going to cry about it because we’ve lost a chance. We’ve played for it with our weapons, and it didn’t work out. We have to continue.” The team’s goal from the beginning of the season is clear: they want to reach the front, and that doesn’t happen by coming from behind. “We would have liked to win and be closer to Atlético, who has now left with a lot of margin,” Valverde noted.
Missed Chances
The team had several missed chances, including three posts in seven minutes. Valverde acknowledged that mistakes were made, especially in the first play, which resulted in two posts. “The posts are there to hold the goal, and you have to try to put it inside,” he said. “We’ve had some clear arrivals that we haven’t been able to capitalize on. Although we can talk about it, we won’t change it. We have to try to be more accurate.”
The Plan to Recover
With five days to go before the European party, Valverde is focused on recovery. “The Europa League penalizes the next game, with only three days of recovery. Now we have room,” he said. The team will use this time to regroup and prepare for the next match.
Lifting the Team’s Mood
After a tough loss, Valverde knows that lifting the team’s mood is crucial. “We’ll do it in the same way we have in other times when we’ve lost. In football, you can experience three things, and whatever happens, you have to play again,” he said. “We’ve lost, but we don’t have a bad feeling.”
Vivian’s Performance
Valverde was impressed with Vivian’s performance, saying, “He’s a player with the capacity to concentrate, which is difficult to match in any First Division team. And we’re lucky to have him.” Vivian’s aggressive style, anticipation, and safety on the field make him a valuable asset to the team. “He’s growing with each game, and if he’s been called up to the selection, it’s for a reason,” Valverde added.
