Valverde: »derbies are always special, they have that emotional component of rivalry»

Ernesto Valverde has appeared before the media after the victory by the minimum before the Royal Society. Many of the questions are from How the team looked during the matchand how it feels to play derbies. Besides, talks about the return of Sancet and the surprising ownership of Djaló.

The first questions prompted Valverde to speak about how difficult and disputed the match has beenhighlighting the first 25 minutes where Athletic He has found himself very comfortable on the field of playresponded in the following way: «We have started well, The first half hour we created danger for them and they couldn’t get past us“We were well planted.”

Ball dispute between Nico and Kubo. Source: X official Athletic Club

Despite having fallen on his feet in the match, “Txingurri” did not like how his team finished the first half, since after Sancet’s goal, La Real began to develop its game fluidlyhe also made it clear at a press conference: » In the second half we went higher because the end of the first half we didn’t like it too much«.

Leaving aside the first part, he began to talk about how he saw his team during the second 45 minutes. Among his words these stand out: «The second half It was a game where the goal could come from either of the two areas“He also made it clear that the second half was very disputed, in which he took this for granted:”In the second half we had fewer options but We are happy because it is a derby and we know the emotional component it has«.

The momentum that both teams had on the field of play also stands out: “we subdued the rival and the rival also subdued us, in every dispute, in every divided ball…”

Halfway through the press conference, there was talk about the sanctions of some players, such as in this case Beñat Prados, who received the fifth yellow card and that therefore he will miss the next match. However, they wanted to highlight the bullets in the chamber that Ernesto Valverde had to face the loss, he responded this: “We knew that Beñat was conditioned, but it was a possibility due to the game, we have spare parts in the sense of guarantees«.

One of the following questions touched on the topic of how important this match was, Ernesto Valverde responded as follows: »The derbies They are always special“They have that emotional component of rivalry, although they are only 3 points that help us continue adding.” He made it clear that this match was about going 100%, for what it meant for the fans and for what it meant in the classification.

At the press conference they also wanted to highlight the return of Ohian Sancet, since his presence is a relief for Ernesto Valverde’s team, lHe came into the game by scoring the winning goal and this is how Valverde responded to a question related to him: «For all players it is important to have numbers, I had doubts with Ohian since it came with problems all week, it is a player who gives us a lot«.

Team celebration before Sancet’s goal. Source x official Athletic Club

The “Txingurri” surprised in the initial lineup by fielding Djaló. He responded with this: “there were many players affected, and it was not a question of putting them all together as a precaution, I have had to evaluate those options and I have decided to put Djaló in«.