Valverde’s Prediction Fulfilled
Athletic’s coach, Valverde, had predicted that the team that resembled him the most would win the semifinal. This meant that the team needed to maintain their usual style of play for a longer period. However, Athletic did not respond as expected at the start of the game. They were not their usual all-terrain team that pressures the opponent and poses challenges every time they enter the opponent’s field.
As a result, Barcelona was given more opportunities than desired. When Athletic tried to return to their usual plan, it was already too late. The team’s fortune also ran out in the last ten minutes of the game, with two disallowed goals from De Marcos and Inaki Williams.
Post-Game Analysis
Inaki Williams was the first to analyze the game and opted for immediate regeneration. He acknowledged that playing against Barcelona is always complicated and that they had not been able to make the necessary passes to break their line. Despite the loss, Williams emphasized that the season does not end there and that they still have exciting things to fight for.
The Future of Herrera and Serrano
The Super Cup did not provide any minutes for Herrera, who is on the agenda to join Boca Juniors for the Argentine championship and the Club World Cup. The matter is expected to be resolved this week, as it is not convenient for either party to delay it. On the other hand, Nico Serrano had a chance to play against Barcelona, despite not having much participation this season. However, Valverde is not willing to let both players leave, as it would decapitalize the workforce.
Simon’s Performance
Unai Simon lived up to his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Despite still recovering from an operation on his right wrist, Simon played his first big game since last summer and kept Athletic alive. He faced off against Szczęsny, a goalkeeper who became international a decade earlier than Simon, and responded with flying colors in the first half.