Lezama (Bizkaia), Aug 11 (EFE).- The Athletic Club coach, Ernesto Valverde, considers that the tactical variant introduced this season by Real Madrid is motivated by the fact that Carlos Ancelotti has “a very important arsenal in midfield “.
“I’ve seen them do well in attack, but also in defense with strong center-backs and two deep full-backs. They play with four on the inside and two forwards also on the inside ready to run,” explained the coach of the Bilbao team at the pre-match press conference that will face both teams on Saturday in San Mamés.
Asked if this start of the season could be a good time to face Real Madrid, he said that “you never know, but as a reference they have spent 100 million (euro) on a player” in reference to the signing of Englishman Jude Bellingham.
“It’s going to be a strong match and as always against Madrid, even though it seems like you dominate them, you never have to let your guard down because at any moment they score a goal. You have to be well placed for the ninety minutes so as not to concede and at the same time hurt them” he mused.
On the other hand, regarding Athletic, the coach believes that they arrive “well” at this league start after a “slightly atypical” preseason, shorter than usual and conditioned by the tour of Mexico, also dotted with physical problems of some footballers important like Yeray Álvarez or Yuri Berchiche.
“Everyone knows us, we’re not fooling anyone. We’re going to continue along this line trying to improve what we need to improve, but delving into the good things that identify us and for which the rest of the teams take us into account “, he impinged.
One of those aspects, in the coach’s opinion, will be to maintain “the dominance” that they exercised the previous season over their rivals in the San Mamés games, although translating it into a greater number of points.
“I don’t think any team thinks that I play here comfortably. I haven’t seen too many better teams than us globally. We must maintain our identity and our spirit”, stressed the ‘Txingurri’, aware of the importance of “starting strong” and “catch a good wave” in the early stages of the league.
“Our intention is to always be fighting for beautiful things for the club. You have to fight a lot. The teams get stronger and we have a hard time doing it, but it’s what Athletic should do every year, reinvent itself and rearm to opt for what that we like,” he said.
Lastly, Valverde pointed out that “the logical” and “ideal” thing would be for the transfer market to close before the start of the league and not at the end of August.
“It can affect Athletic if there is a player who can leave and also to incorporate someone,” he inadvertently pointed out the option of the possible signing of the Manchester City defender, former Athletic player, Aymeric Laporte.
“I don’t want to talk about any player who is on another team. You have to have respect for those issues. What Athletic has to be is willing to improve the team. Whether there are options or not is another matter,” he settled. EFE
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