Valverde admits Athletic 'went all-out' in frantic derby draw with Real Sociedad
Ernesto Valverde's post-match analysis after Athletic Club salvaged a point against ten-man Real Sociedad in a tense Basque derby at San Mamés.
Athletic Club managed to avoid defeat with a late surge after Real Sociedad were reduced to ten men following Brais Méndez’s sending off in a hard-fought Basque derby.
Valverde’s honest assessment
Ernesto Valverde didn’t mince his words after the match, admitting his side had to resort to brute force rather than finesse: “In the end we went a bit all-out,” the gaffer explained. He acknowledged Real Sociedad’s first-half superiority and that Athletic’s performance lacked their usual spark.
The veteran manager was refreshingly candid about his team’s approach, suggesting they often achieve results through sheer persistence rather than flowing football. “Many times we get things done through insistence, without having as clear a game as we’d like,” he noted.
Red card impact
When asked about Brais Méndez’s dismissal, Valverde was typically measured, admitting he hadn’t seen the incident clearly but recognizing it gave Athletic the numerical advantage they needed to push for an equalizer.
Missing ingredients
Valverde highlighted several concerns:
- Lack of composure in possession during the first half
- The team’s poor conversion rate in La Liga
- Defensive vulnerabilities that have seen them concede regularly
He praised Iñigo’s second-half introduction for bringing much-needed clarity to Athletic’s play, while also addressing the growing nervousness among supporters as points continue to prove elusive.
Injury crisis ahead of Copa clash
The situation looks proper dodgy for their upcoming Copa del Rey fixture, with Valverde revealing a defensive crisis:
“Vivian hasn’t trained for a week and it’s difficult for Laporte to be available,” he explained. “It’s not normal to have three centre-backs injured and one suspended. We’ll look for whatever solutions we can.”
Despite the draw feeling somewhat like a let-off, Athletic will take the point and focus on finding solutions to their defensive headache before their next crucial cup tie.