Athletic lost their first preseason game today. The lions have fallen 2-1 to St. Gallen in Switzerland, the place chosen for the preseason until July 24. Marcelino has made an assessment of what was seen this afternoon at the Kybunkpark stadium against a much more shot opponent. “It's the first game, the legs are heavy, the head takes time to think, against an opponent who starts the competition next week and who has surpassed us especially in duels and disputes. It was clear that they were going to one more march. But hey, this is what usually happens in preseason. We have to keep working to get to the first competitive match in the best possible disposition. It is obvious that it has to be better than what we have shown today ”, acknowledged the Asturian.
What has been the good and the bad? “I like the attitude of the team, which is always good. But then we have been thick with the ball. Neither continuously, but at times. Then we have not defended the defensive strategy well. In the corners they have generated us a lot of danger and that's how the goals came. It can be improved and I think it tells us that we have been irregular and that we have a lot to improve ”, he added.
Unai
Lopez has been the owner. Despite this, the coach has affirmed that his situation does not change compared to last season, when he was part of the group of players who did not count for the 2021-22 season. “His situation has not changed at all,” he said emphatically.
Yesterday the departure of Ibai, who reached an agreement with the club to terminate his contract that ended on June 30, 2022. Marcelino He has thanked him for his work. “I can only speak of the work we have done together. I want to thank you for the respect and understanding of a complicated situation that you had after my arrival and we communicated it to you. He has always been open to collaboration, with an unbeatable attitude. At the end of the season we decided that the best thing for all parties was to look for a future and that has happened. Wish him the best ”, he affirmed.
The Asturian has praised the game developed today by Nico
Williams Y They lived: “With young boys we must always be prudent, give them their space and time. I think that Nico has done a good job, They lived also. Very happy. This is a process and in the preseason process we always approach each game wanting to play against level rivals and that they demand of us ”, he stated.
The Villaviciosa player has also recognized the lack of fluidity in the game: “I think it is the sum of everything. When the legs weigh, the mind, the product of that heaviness. it goes slow. You make late and often inaccurate decisions. I think that's what happened to us today. But we are not going to change the idea that we have. During the competition we prepare the matches to arrive in the best possible physical and mental condition. In preseason we consider each game as a training session different from the others and as a preparation for the league debut ”, he explained.
“The evaluation of the preseason is very good. We have injury issues that we would like to avoid, but fortunately so far they have been minor. The attitude of the players is extraordinary. I am frankly satisfied. We have a month left to start the competition and a few weeks of hard workloads and then as the competition approaches we will prepare the team so that it is in the best physical, football and mental condition ”, he said regarding the phase of preparation that began on July 7.