ANDhe triumph of Athletic in Vallecas, where no one had won this League, brings the lions closer to the European positions and confirms Marcelino’s team as one of the best this January. “I am very satisfied because we came to a very complicated field, in which Rayo has incredible numbers. Athletic is doing well and in the offensive section we are getting better and better. After an enormous effort, we leave very satisfied to have won away from House. In January we have added 7 points out of 9 as visitors that bring us closer to the top of the table. We leave happy for a long-suffering and very difficult victory
The participation of Nico Serrano
“It is to arrive and kiss the saint. He is a player who has a goal. It is seen in training and in his career in the lower teams. He is young, still youthful, but when he goes with the national team he scores a goal and when he trains with us he does it too. The goal he has scored here has also been done in training. It is comforting that such young boys come with that enthusiasm and ability to offer us competitive situations and make sure that Athletic has a future with players who, with a training-competition process, can be important”.
Managing with the younger players
“I try to do my best, but that doesn’t mean that maybe it’s completely right. We have to prevent so as not to regret, we have to try to channel the talent while they grow at a competitive level and from here there is a result, one match every three days. Nico Williams ended the game against Barcelona with cramps and before the Super Cup he had also had muscle problems. We will try to find solutions based on our ability to pick the best players for each match. In the case of Nico Serrano played 60 very good minutes, but the game required a presence in midfield and that’s why we consider the change.
Lack of success in attack
“We had the opportunity to close the result with Serrano, Dani, Raúl…but if you don’t score the second goal it’s obvious that you’re going to suffer a lot. Rayo has a good attacking game and is one of the best teams in terms of numbers and being accurate in lateral centers, but we are very good at those actions because we are tremendously effective. In the final stretch we also paid for the effort of those who played last Thursday and we suffered, but we ended up with a clean sheet after giving very few options to the rival”.
The state of the pitch
“I don’t want to make comments like that because then I’m sure… The one who has to control that is not the coach of the rival team. I don’t know who will have that competition, if LaLiga or who, but once it is certified that the teams are playing we have to adapt and play“.
Change of trend in the results
“Rayo dominated more than us, but the clearest chances were ours. Rayo, due to their style and dominance on the field, as well as a favorable structure to play here, dominates, but we have already told you that in many games that we tied we more deserving to win than draw. If we had drawn this time it would not have been unfair, but it is just as true that the clearest chances were ours”.
