"I didn't want Nico to play too much as a precaution"

Athletic Club started the season with doubts after drawing at home against a Getafe side severely depleted by their situation. They only had 15 outfield players called up for the game and no strikers in the squad. Ernesto Valverde showed his dissatisfaction to the media.

"At home, we have to be, especially in attack, at a much more consistent level than we were in the first half. I don't have to look at the opposition, we have to look at ourselves and what we didn't do well to win," he explained.

He also made reference to his side's lack of control over the game: "We were lucky enough to score the goal, but if you don't have control, which we didn't, on any long ball they'll throw you off balance because they go hard into the challenges".

The Spanish coach left a message of warning for his dressing room: "For this to work, we have to get our act together and be very strong because there is no other way for us. Other teams may be able to handle situations better, but we can't". The key for the coach is to "set a high attacking tempo and be very solid in defence".

As for the substitution of Nico Williams, which may have sparked some rumours about a departure, he clarified: "He's at that point of how the Euros ended. I didn't want him to play too much, as a precaution, and neither did Vivian. They've had to go out and they've been fine." 

 

August 15, 2024