Athletic Club Reflects on Frustrating Loss to Mallorca

Athletic Club is struggling to comprehend their defeat against Mallorca. Coach Ernesto Valverde commented, “We feel frustrated with how the match unfolded. Right from the start, we conceded a goal, but we regrouped and made significant advances into their half. We strongly contested the penalty call against Vivian, as we believe it wasn’t a handball. In contrast, a clear handball call in the previous match against Cultural went unchallenged. We pushed forward and encountered another situation that led to a goal against us, followed by a red card. We also considered Yuri’s penalty to be unjustified. We had numerous opportunities to equalize, making this a very disappointing result for us. Not securing a win leaves us feeling unsettled.”

Discussing the match’s progression, Valverde noted, “When you have chances on the road, you must capitalize on them, as games can shift quickly. I believed we would turn it around in the second half, and we were making strides. However, the play that resulted in the 3-2 scoreline took us out of the contest too soon.”

On the role of VAR, he reflected, “When referees consult VAR and take around 40 seconds to come back, it indicates a clear situation. Lengthy reviews can lead to unpredictable outcomes. I admit to being biased and subjective in my assessment, but the match is concluded, and we didn’t win. The frustration of not securing a victory is substantial.”

Regarding the red cards, Valverde remarked, “I’m not a fan of such situations. While it is true that the circumstances were unusual, I would have preferred not to have players suspended, leaving us with two less for the upcoming match against Sevilla.”

Finally, he addressed the team’s current state, stating, “What matters most is finding our rhythm on the pitch and recognizing that we can win matches. We were also close to victory in Pamplona. We need the points and must actively pursue them. Our aim was to have Mallorca nine points behind us, but now they are only three. If we perform as we did today, we will have a greater chance of securing victories.”