Elimination of Barça in the Cup: “Athletic played a fantastic game. They deserved to go through, even more easily. I don’t think the wear and tear is definitive because they have a good squad. They made six changes compared to the Super Cup and the team didn’t notice it. They are the strongest in La Liga in terms of intensity. We would be naive if we thought that this would give us an advantage”.
Four games in ten days: “All the teams have experiences of this type or similar. With Guijuelo, we played extra time and then we played a lousy match against Espanyol. I don’t think it will have much influence. I expect an Athletic that competes very well, with some numbers incredible away from home, at this point he has only lost at the Bernabéu, a match that he deserved to win. He always competes, even on the worst days”.
Low: “The only two confirmed are those of Merquelanz, long-term, and Óscar Valentín, due to suspension. Álvaro and Dimitrievski have been joining the group during the week and we can count on them at first”.
Analysis of the Athletic: “He’s worked very well and gives you very little. It’s what we expect. Up front they have people with a lot of legs and speed. As soon as you have a loss, they all go into space and are vertical. And on a defensive level they are spectacular. We must take into account All the details”.
Falcao or Sergi Guardiola in the eleven?: “I know who will play, but Athletic is not going to tell me the eleven either. It is good for a coach to have these doubts, that the players make it difficult for you because of their performance”.
special match: “Always, it’s clear. I’m from Athletic and that’s how it’s going to be. The longer you’ve been in this, the more normally you take these things. Start the game and think about yourself, about how you can hurt them”.
Winter market: “The issue of departures does not depend on me. I will give my opinion and help the club and the players to make the best decisions. I am not going to hinder players who are not getting the minutes they think they deserve. Since we lost to Merquelanz at the beginning of the season, we have that lack and now it is the position that must be reinforced”.
