On January 3, Athletic announced an agreement for Marcelino became the club's coach, replacing Gaizka Garitano. Only 14 days later, the Asturian coach has already won his first title in Bilbao. “This match / title ratio is impossible to maintain,” he pointed out with a mischievous smile on Sunday in La Cartuja tflush lift the Super Cup, the second great success in his long career as a coach. The first was the Copa del Rey that he won with Valencia on May 25, 2018. And both trophies have similarities, since he conquered them in Seville and against Barça. In fact, he is the only coach in history to win two consecutive finals against Barça.
“I had to play eight semifinals to reach a final and now in two finals, I have completed it. We have achieved it in record time. Valencia's squad and Athletic's squad have made us champions, we couldn't be more satisfied“He was excited before looking at the sky and dedicating such an effervescent moment to his deceased father.
“I believe a lot in destiny. For Athletic this title means a lot,” he added. In the third game as rojiblanco, a trophy, that's nothing. And the calendar has brought him games against Barça (2) and Madrid, plus one postponed by the snow against Atlético. In its premiere, on Three Kings Day, fell 2-3 in San Mamés and then the ecstasy has come. Marcelino has managed to transform a team that is five points away from relegation into The league and turn it into a block capable of making Madrid and Barcelona very small to win the Spanish Super Cup. Now he is marked by fire on April 4 to return to La Cartuja, where he will play the final of the Cup against Real.
Athletic had only won two other times against Madrid and Barça in consecutive games, in 1942 and 1955. Marcelino is the second Athletic coach in 80 years to win his first two games away from San Mamés. The previous one was Daucik, in 1954. That year Athletic won the Cup. The Asturian coach has been elegant and has awarded Garitano, his predecessor, part of the credit for his success.