Athletic’s Triumph in the Copa: Valverde’s Insights

Athletic Club has found a realm of victories in the Copa, a welcome contrast to their struggles in the league. The team celebrates this achievement alongside their coach, Ernesto Valverde. “Reaching the semifinals is not an everyday occurrence, although we’ve had our share of such moments in recent years. It is a success for us and a boost for the team at this juncture. The team has spirit, and we must never lose that, regardless of our luck,” he remarked.

Regarding the lineup, Valverde stated, “I understand the public’s concerns upon seeing the lineup. Coaches often take risks, and we believed this was our best formation. We dominated in several phases of the match, and truthfully, both teams are quite similar. We created dangerous opportunities, and ultimately, we managed to score.”

He commented on Iñaki Williams’ goal: “Scoring late in the game feels definitive and provides a significant morale boost. We experienced some misfortune with the goal we conceded, as well as their own goal. This is a tremendous joy for us, and we hope it brings happiness to our supporters as well.”

On Williams’ performance, Valverde explained, “This season has presented challenges for everyone due to various circumstances. Goals are always beneficial for attacking players and particularly for the team since we need results and these players to contribute significantly.”

Discussing Monreal’s contribution, he noted, “He performed very well. It was a demanding match for him, especially against strong forwards. We had limited options available. I had to manage minutes between Yuri and Aymeric due to medical advice, and we were stretched thin. I was unsure when Iker would debut, but I knew it would happen. This is great news for Athletic.”

Valverde identified the key moments of the tie: “In the first thirty minutes, we performed well and created doubts for Valencia, but they improved towards the end of the first half. I believe we dominated in the second half and pushed forward, although we were exposed at times because they have fast players. The match was open, and they too could have scored.”

Regarding Padilla’s error and the missed penalty, he said, “He was having a good match and an excellent Copa. The ball became somewhat stagnant, and unfortunately, Padilla faced that misfortune but later recovered well. It’s better to learn from a victory than a defeat. I was surprised by the penalty miss, especially given the circumstances. I asked the fourth official which area the foul occurred in, as I hadn’t seen it.”

When discussing Jauregizar’s choice as the penalty taker, Valverde mentioned, “Someone made that decision. I usually have some influence on what happens on the field. He missed the penalty, but considering our history with penalties, anyone can take one as we don’t convert them all.”

Reflecting on a controversial moment involving Copete, he stated, “You notice the opponent protests excessively during the game. It was about maintaining balance. If they caused a commotion, we would respond similarly. The only issue is that the player risks a yellow card, and the coach a red. I later informed the linesman that I would refrain from further protests.”

Finally, when asked about the semifinal opponent, he concluded, “Given the match we have this Sunday, the upcoming opponent in the semifinals is one of my least concerns.”