Garitano: ‘Aduriz is a competitive animal’

Athletic Club coach Gaizka Garitano appeared last night in the San Mamés press room after the 1-0 victory over F.C. Barcelona, a triumph that would not have been possible without the defensive solidarity shown yesterday by all its football players: “We have been keeping the goal at zero for two years in a row against Barcelona (in San Mamés), it is impossible to achieve it if the players above do not work: Iker Muniain, Raúl García…”.

Garitano analysed the match in the following way: “We did a very good first half, then it cost us more in the second half, because being the opening match and due to yesterday’s warm weather, we were not yet able to maintain the intensity for 90 minutes.

When he was asked about Aritz Aduriz, he highlighted that  ‘he is a competitive animal because of how it takes care of himself; the first player arrives (at Lezama) and the last that goes away’; on the victory goal, he pointed out that ‘although he is 38 years old, he has that shot, in that he is unique, he is the type of player who, no matter how many years he is, he always makes the difference’.

Apart from the striker, Oihan Sancet was another of the names for which he was asked, in this regard, Garitano wanted to highlight the fact that they are lining up young people but that the more veterans are also performing at a good level.