Garitano: “We got better as the match went on”

Despite missing out on three points, Athletic Club manager Gaizka Garitano believes there were a lot of positives to take home from the lions’ 2-2 draw against Valencia at Mestalla in LaLiga Santander.

Athletic went 1-0 down in the first half, before staging a second-half comeback and going 1-2 up, only to concede an equaliser in the final ten minutes.

“We can take a lot of positives,” Garitano said at his post-match press conference. “Compared to other more evenly-matched games, we were better in various parts of the match today.

“We were strong down the flanks, with that desire to win and playing with personality.”

Gaizka also highlighted how the lions grew into the game in the second half, adding: “We got better as the match went on. At the end of the first half and in the second half we were better.

“We’re playing better than them when they got the equaliser, so it’s a shame.”

Valencia only managed two shots on target and the gaffer praised Athletic’s overall defensive performance. “We conceded few chances and defensively we did well,” he said. “Considering that the opponents were a big team like Valencia, they didn’t have many opportunities.”

However, the coach bemoaned the “specific errors” which he felt cost his team the game, saying: “Small details are costing us. They’ll fade away, the importing thing is that performances are getting better.”