Valverde keeps eyes on the prize as Athletic face crucial run
Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde believes upcoming fixtures will determine whether his side look up or down the table as they prepare for Mallorca clash.
Athletic Club’s gaffer Ernesto Valverde reckons the next few games will be proper make-or-break for his side’s season ambitions as they head to Son Moix this weekend.
Tight margins in La Liga
After drawing their last league outing at El Sadar, the Bilbao boys are desperate to get back to winning ways on their travels. With the league table tighter than a duck’s you-know-what, Valverde knows these upcoming fixtures could define which direction they’re looking for the rest of the campaign.
“What happens in these next few matches will make us look one way or another, and we want to look upwards,” the experienced boss explained ahead of their trip to Mallorca.
Defensive concerns
The former Barcelona manager has some serious thinking to do about his backline, which has suddenly gone from rock solid to leaking goals like a dodgy tap:
- Athletic have conceded eight goals in their last two matches
- Valverde admits this is “uncharacteristic” of his normally resolute side
- Team needs to be more compact defensively
“In recent years we’ve always been very reliable from a defensive standpoint,” Valverde acknowledged, clearly concerned by the recent lapses at the back.
Copa comeback boost
There’s a silver lining though - that barnstorming comeback in the Copa del Rey has given the squad a proper boost. Turning around a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 is exactly the sort of character-building result that can transform a season.
Valverde believes this resilience could be crucial: “When you overcome difficult tests, it always drives you forward. Recovering from a 0-2 to achieve a 3-2 fills you with confidence.”
Looking ahead
With Athletic now in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, there’s a genuine buzz around the club’s prospects in the competition. They’re just one win away from a semi-final spot, something that means the world to the Basque outfit and their passionate supporters.
However, Valverde’s keeping his feet firmly on the ground. While cup glory might be on the horizon, the bread and butter of La Liga remains the immediate focus, with these next few fixtures potentially defining their season.
With two away games followed by two home matches, this period could be absolutely crucial for determining whether Athletic will be challenging for European spots or getting dragged into mid-table mediocrity.