Rubén Uría: “Athletic were the better side”

Athletic Club assistant manger Rubén Uría, standing in for Marcelino at El Sadar on Monday night, said the Lions’ 1-3 victory was just rewards after a dominant victory.

The Lions went behind in the 10th minute, but a hat-trick by Oihan Sancet saw Athletic fight back to take home all three points in what was the 4000th match in the Club’s history.

“In general we were the better side, we deserved to win,” Uría said at his post-match press conference. “We were a bit tentative at the start, but it’s says a lot about this team that they were able to bounce back and go on to win.”

He continued: “Getting the equaliser and then taking the lead hurt them and gave us confidence. Sancet, [Iñaki] Williams and [Alex] Berenguer had a good understanding today up top. The defence also played a vital role, they kept a powerful attack at bay.”

The Athletic assistant singled out Sancet, praising the no.8’s performance in Pamplona. He said: “He is still in the process of developing. But he’s going to be a very good player and today he had a great game.

“He has to keep improving, he has to keep working, but today he shone at a very high level. I can only congratulate him on the three goals.”