Valverde admits Athletic 'need to look at themselves' after chaotic cup clash
Athletic Club manager reflects on his team's dramatic Copa del Rey victory against Cultural Leonesa, addressing defensive concerns despite advancing.
Ernesto Valverde’s side made a meal of their Copa del Rey tie against Cultural Leonesa but ultimately progressed in a match that had more drama than an EastEnders Christmas special.
Defensive Worries Surface
Despite celebrating a crucial victory that helps Athletic bounce back from their 5-goal Barcelona hammering, Valverde was brutally honest about his team’s performance, particularly their defensive frailties.
“We need to look at ourselves a bit,” the gaffer admitted, concerned about Athletic’s lack of intensity and rhythm. The Basque side found themselves repeatedly pegged back whenever they thought they’d gained control - not exactly the stuff of champions.
Playing with 10 men for a significant portion didn’t help matters either, with Paredes seeing red for what Valverde diplomatically called “an error” - seems the lad forgot to engage his brain before opening his north and south.
León: Valverde’s Cup Bogey Ground
Interestingly, this wasn’t Valverde’s first rodeo in León. The Athletic manager revealed this was his third Copa visit to the city, with all three matches going to extra time. His previous visit with Barcelona was only settled by a late Dembélé winner.
“When I was on my way here, I thought ‘mother of mine!’” Valverde confessed, clearly aware of the banana skin potential this fixture presented.
Guruzeta’s Double Delight
On a more positive note, Valverde praised Guruzeta’s brace, noting how crucial goals are for strikers’ confidence:
“Goalscorers feed off these situations. When someone scores a goal, it changes their life… and ours too.”
Squad Management
Valverde also addressed several tactical decisions, including:
- Switching Nico’s position with Izeta to help counter Adama’s threat
- Choosing different penalty takers due to fatigue
- Confirming Izeta remains in his plans despite transfer speculation
Looking Ahead
With barely time to catch their breath, Athletic now face a quick turnaround for Saturday’s La Liga clash with Mallorca - their sixth consecutive away match.
“Now we need to switch focus to the league because we have two extremely important matches with Sevilla and Mallorca,” Valverde concluded.
For a team with European ambitions, sorting out those defensive issues will be top priority before they travel to the Balearic Islands.