Athletic Club Draws in Pamplona, Eyes European Qualification

Athletic Club returned from Pamplona with a draw, completing the first half of the season — the teams participating in the Supercopa have played one more match than their counterparts — and finding themselves distanced from European qualification spots. The team has accumulated 24 points, scoring 17 goals while conceding 25. Guruzeta, who scored the goal that earned Athletic their latest point, expressed concern regarding the team’s performance this half-season. “The level of each player needs to improve. We have scored very few goals, and with that balance, we won’t achieve much,” he emphasized.

The forward highlighted the necessity for overall team improvement and stated, “This point feels insufficient. The first half of the season has reflected a fair outcome in terms of points and performance. The overall impression is that it has not been satisfactory. I hope we can turn the situation around because we want to secure more points and compete for European spots.”

Guruzeta also reflected on his return to scoring, a personal goal he had yet to fulfill. “I was calm because I was feeling good in training regarding my finishing, but what truly matters is performing well during the matches over the weekend. It’s all about training and persistence. I received a great pass, controlled it well, and scored. In the first half, I had two chances; I might have been overly anxious had I missed those instead of the goalkeeper saving them.”

Athletic’s next challenge will be the Supercopa in Yeda, where they face Barcelona in the semifinals on Wednesday. “How can we be favorites in the Supercopa? But this is football, and we must play. You never know what can happen. We are just two matches away from winning a title, and our first goal is to beat Barcelona,” he stated. Regarding the routine of bringing tournaments to Arabia, the response was brief and measured, contrasting with Iñaki Williams’ more outspoken comments. The club has advised players to lower the profile of their statements, and both Guruzeta and Robert Navarro, the two Athletic players who attended the press conference, adhered to this directive. “Playing in Arabia is a decision that is not ours; we are here to play football.”