Valverde: “We should have played better”

Ernesto Valverde admitted he was hoping to see a better performance from his Lions in their 2023/24 LaLiga EA Sports opener against Real Madrid in Bilbao on Saturday night.

Although Athletic Club started well, the gaffer felt the visitors were just winners in the end. Both of Real Madrid's goals came in the first half as Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham founf the back of the net.

"It was a fair win for Real Madrid," Valverde said during his post-match press conference.

"The first 20 minutes were even, but from then on they were more dangerous and it was hard for us to get forward. They scored with their first chance, but they were more comfortable than us and they made it count.

"We improved in the second half. But in general, they were better than us. It was not one of our best games. Last year we lost with the same result, but we were left feeling better.

"We weren't good. I want to think they were very good, but we can't forget that we should have played better."

The positive note for Athletic was the debutants. Unai Gomez and Imanol García de Albeniz got their first tast of top-flight football, while Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta made a confident return to San Mames.

Valverde said: "It was a difficult game to debut and make a return. It's good news. In the end, football is a long road. Unai Gómez had a good pre-season and will bring a lot.

"Imanol has more experience, but he's coming back from a serious injury and has to get used to this level. And as for Galarreta, he's back home, he's come a long way and we have high hopes for him."