Break is over Christmas for lions. He Athletic returned to work today in Lezama to prepare for their next league engagement, the derby against Real
Society, and he did it in an intense session and in which Gaizka
Garitano He asked his players for vigor and rhythm in actions of pressure and withdrawal. He also emphasized defensive work and putting lines together. “Like in Madrid,” he yelled at them.
This season, the break for Christmas has been shorter than usual in the League
Santander. At other times, the players' rest during this time of year could last for almost a week.
However, the situation created by the coronavirus it has resulted in a tight match schedule, with almost no respite. He Athletic You will be able to check it in the month of January. It presents itself of vertigo for the rojiblancos, without many days between one game and another.
Now instead Gaizka
Garitano wants to take advantage of the time. His idea is to instill a series of ideas in the face of the next clashes, the closest next Thursday in Saint
Mamas against Real
Society.
Pressure and defense
One of those aspects is defense work. During the first day in Lezama after Christmas, Derio's coach reiterated over and over again what he wants. Pressure in the opposite field and fast retreat to stop the attacks of the rivals. Also, in defense, he insisted on joining the lines with a very graphic example: “Como en Madrid”.
The duel against the team Zinedine
Zidane in Valdebebas It was one of the best of the Athletic in defensive tasks. To the rojiblancos, outnumbered by the expulsion of Raul
Garcia, they had to double up to cover gaps before a Real
Madrid who had the territorial domain. The response of the Gaizka
Garitano In that game it was a very close defense with many aids and that the merengue team was choked for many minutes.
It left a good taste in the mouth of the technician Athletic the work of the lions that day. This morning, during the first training session after the break Christmas, it reminded him. Motivation to face what comes to the lions. Duels against Real
Society, Elche, Barcelona, Athletic
of
Madrid and Real
Madrid in a very demanding start to 2021.
No respite
With this morning's training, the Athletic kicked off a week in which players from Gaizka
Garitano they won't have a day off. The calendar rules.
Tomorrow (10.30 am) they will return to Lezama the rojiblancos for their second session. Next week, with the exception of the two days in which matches are scheduled, on Thursday against the Real and Sunday against him Elche, he Athletic It will be exercised every day, including January 1 when a session is scheduled at 11.30 am.