Athletic has it increasingly difficult. It is not because it has been capitalized with the departure of players, the fundamental problem is the crack that has been opened up with the potential and investments of Barça and Atlético de Madrid, with the stamp of the Champions, to which Real now joins. Madrid. And other lower-level teams also import international footballers from around the world. The rojiblancas have been training since the middle of the month and this Saturday they play their first friendly against Logroño, a rival with whom they still have pending the dispute of the semifinal of the Cup.
In his x-ray of the situation, Angel Villacampa, coach of the Bilbao team explains that “recently a piece of information from FIFA came out, an analysis comparing the 2015 World Cup with that of 2019. It was clearly seen that the physical evolution of the players, beyond the technical or tactical aspects, was brutal. The difference in how intensity, distance, speed could be maintained more and better … This is reflected in the League. International players arrive, all with a stamp, that very high physical conditioning. It leads us to be alert that this is the way, or we will equal or we will not be able to compete from you to you. The League is becoming more complex, the arrival of Real Madrid is going to give us more visibility, positive things for women's football, although it is true that it is one more rival to beat ”.
The rojiblanco coach is “convinced” that at the start of the competition on September 6 they will arrive “in optimal conditions”. This Saturday they have their first exam in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. “The important thing is to get feelings. And for those who are with us for the first time, take the concepts, adapt to the physical demands of the category change. We have to adapt to a similar form, because we cannot change the stamp we have, but we can do so in terms of drawing, available for these outlets. Above all, for Azkona, or Maite and Damaris who were very protagonists. Beyond the result, these friendlies serve to create that hallmark, ”he says.
Following that same argument, he admits that “we will have to adapt something because the players are different. A coach may have his ideas, but in the end the protagonists are them. We have to be enhancers and facilitate the context so that they give the maximum performance. We are looking for that tactical drawing, that way of playing, which will not change much either, the main players, despite the three casualties, are still with us ”.
Villacampa, On the incentives that may remain in the League, assumes that “we are aware of what is happening around. That does not mean to be ambitious and work. I don't know how he trains to finish eighth or ninth, the League will put us where we deserve. The only thing that makes us work harder and prepare ourselves better to compete with those teams, even though we are seeing that they will be powerful squads. We are confident in our work in Lezama and in the players we have, we hope to be prepared to compete against you with those teams when the time comes. ”
As for the Cup, the man from Toledo stresses that “we are a cup club, that competition creates an extra incentive for us. We have the one of the 2019-20, we will go with everything for it. If you can't, go for the next one. That has to be this club and this team, at least it is my vision, without losing sight of the reality and the templates that are being made. I am aware of all the signings and movements that are being made. It won't be easy, we know that. We know what we are going to face. That is what we are preparing for. ”
Villacampa recalls that “the break came at the worst moment, the team was in a spectacular moment, with a super positive dynamic and that ambition to achieve something important in the Cup. When the date comes out it will seem like another competition … But no there are excuses, we have a clear objective. Afterwards, we will succeed or not, but it has to be the objective ”.
He was practically given up as lost, he was linked to the Real Madrid bench, but Villacampa renewed with Athletic in mid-May for one more year. “I feel very identified with the club, this is one more challenge, I know it will bring out my best version. That is also part of being a coach, looking for challenges that make you better, that make the club, the team better … I am proud that Moraza has reached the selection, from the steps forward of Valdezate, Ohiane, Azkona … I am very confident in those that have risen from the subsidiary and with the base that we have. There are many things to do, “he says.