Simón's cheeky praise for goalscorer: 'Galarreta has turned into Maradona'
Athletic Bilbao's keeper had a laugh at his teammate's expense after Galarreta's crucial equaliser saved a point against Real Sociedad at San Mamés.
Athletic Club narrowly avoided their fifth La Liga defeat at San Mamés this season, scraping a draw against Basque rivals Real Sociedad in a match where the stars seemed to align just enough to prevent another home disappointment.
Galarreta the unlikely hero
Midfielder Mikel Galarreta, who had been rested following Champions League duties, emerged as the unlikely saviour. His goal released the mounting tension at San Mamés, where fans have witnessed the team struggling to recapture their best form this campaign.
“We’re going through a difficult period with injuries and bad luck, but we also have things to correct, which we’re trying to address,” admitted Galarreta after the match. “Together we need to move forward.”
The draw feels more significant for team morale than for the league table, as Athletic continue to grapple with their inconsistent home form - the proverbial elephant in the room that Ernesto Valverde’s men must address before Levante visit next Saturday.
Simón’s banter
Goalkeeper Unai Simón couldn’t resist a bit of friendly banter about his teammate’s unexpected goalscoring heroics:
“We always have a laugh about whether his top speed will be the best in the team,” revealed Simón with typical dry humour. “But the work he puts in is impressive and an example to everyone. With that goal, we’ve seen he’s turned into Maradona!”
The Athletic keeper acknowledged the team’s determination after going down to ten men, saying they “went all out” (literally “burned all the ships” in Spanish) to salvage something from the match.
Staying the course
Despite recent struggles, Simón emphasised that the squad remains unified behind their manager’s vision:
“We’re following the gaffer’s plan, and we know that if we stick to it, we’ll get results,” he insisted, reinforcing that the team remains on the same page despite their recent blip in form.
For Athletic, who’ve had a proper mare at home lately, this point might just be the tonic they need before welcoming Levante to the Catedral next weekend.