Unai lopez (Donostia, 10-30-1995) has been placed in the window with the double to Eibar that gave Athletic the first victory of the season. Somehow satisfying the technician's request, Gaizka Garitano, who in addition to leading the creative department, asks for arrival. That he contributes his grain of sand in the scoring facet. Accumulate three goals in four courses and 63 games as a rojiblanco. His first target was obtained last March from a direct free kick in Valladolid. The midfielder made his debut as a lion very young, he had to do the 'military', he had two assignments to Leganés and Rayo Vallecano, but he is getting closer to his goal, to triumph in the Bilbao team.
MD has spoken with Asier Garitano, the coach who had him under his command at Leganés during his assignment in the 2016-17 campaign. “He came from having made his debut very young, he had already been in the First Division and had played in Europe. He had also come down with Bilbao Athletic … For Leganés it was a player profile that I was looking for, with some experience in the First Division, who had to grow, who with his improvement would help us save the season. He played a great season. I knew he was going to help us and he did. I am very happy to have had him because, in addition, he is a good boy ”, he remembers.
The one from Bergara saw the double of Unai lopez to Eibar. “It is something that the coaches have always asked him, not only that he play in the central zone, that this dominates him, but that he has to reach the area a little bit more. Because the goals are made there. The first is a shot from outside the area, but the second reaches the penalty spot at the end of the match. That is where he has the ability, they are small details of football, important, and that he has to improve. In Leganés he made us a couple of goals in First Division. It has to be demanded in this aspect also because it is fundamental in today's football, ”he says.
The two goals from Ipurua have placed the rojiblanco in the forefront of the media. “Goals lead to that, but last season was already very good. This year he is already more established and he will play a great season again, for sure. These two goals will help him to be a little more courageous when it comes to entering the area, which is important. The team, he and everyone will appreciate it ”, he explains. Asier Garitano.
Regarding his profile, he points out that “he is very complete, he understands football very well and interprets the game in different positions. He has always understood all that very well. You know where you have your room for improvement. He is a boy who works well on a day-to-day basis, how far he can go will depend on him ”.
That request to step on the opposite area more is something in which the two agree Garitanos. Gaizka, the manager of the rojiblancos, commented after winning in Ipurua that “he is another of those who had coronavirus, did little preseason and could not be in Granada. We talk a lot with those who play in that position, they must have much more commitment to goal, reach much higher. It's okay to create, but an '8' has to score 3-4-5 goals a year. It has to come because we don't have players who score many goals. That trickle of goals that we always demand has to start with the player in that position. He can do it, he has a good shot. Those who play in that position have to contribute offensively, not only in creation, but also in completion from time to time ”.
Unai lopez He made his debut with Athletic in a big way, in the previous Champions League tie against Napoli in San Mamés, with a 3-1 and a double of Aduriz and goal from Ibai tracing the initial impact of Hamsik. The lions had brought a 1-1 from San Paolo in their suitcase. It was on August 27, 2014, at the age of 18, by the hand of Ernesto Valverde. That night, Txingurri He commented that “I have given him the alternative in a difficult game, he has shown great integrity, he has entered the game very well and it has been seen that the responsibility has not weighed on him. It can bring us many things. It has been a pleasant surprise for everyone, especially for its packaging ”.
Although after not his path has had a curve. He played the 2015-16 campaign with Bilbao Athletic in Second. Later, he had two assignments, to Leganés (2016-17) in First, with 23 games, and to Rayo Vallecano (2017-18) in Second, with 39 games. More done. In the 2018-19 academic year, he returned to Athletic, but only participated in 7 League matches and 1 Cup.
In the past preseason in Germany, he already wanted to punch the table. No more assignments. “This season I face it with all the enthusiasm in the world, eager to make a place for myself here and succeed in Athletic,” he stressed, at the same time that he was more rocky on the green. His figures increased to 26 games in the League and 3 in the Cup. Along with Cordova, was one of the most replaced. The Donostiarra has always defended that it is a matter of the coach, he has enough gasoline. “I see myself able to play the ninety minutes, but decide Gaizka and I totally respect him ”, he clarified. Power steering.