Valverde: "We have to keep moving forward"
Valverde: "We have to keep moving forward"
This is what the boss had to say after Athletic's goalless draw with RCD Mallorca
Despite the fact Athletic Club were a man up for most of the match, Ernesto Valverde praised the attitude shown by his players during their 0-0 at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, putting their inability to pick up all three points down to a lack of luck and cutting edge in the final third.
Los Leones were handed a big advantage in the 24th minute when Mallorca's Samu Costa received a second yellow card after two reckless challenges on Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta.
"We couldn't get past their defensive wall and when we did we couldn't convert it into goals," Valverde said in his post-match press conference.
"Mallorca competed well and did a great job defensively. The sending off meant that they dropped deeper and we lacked a little bit of finesse to finish well and score a goal.
"Sometimes you score and sometimes you don't, we had our chances but it wasn't to be. That's football. We're allowed to be a bit frustrated, but every day is a different story and we have to keep going."
The boss said it was "special" to see Athletic players nominated for important awards after Nico Williams came 15th in the Ballon d'Or rankings and Unai Simón finished second in the Lev Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper in the world.
He continued: "We don't normally give too much importance to individual awards, as football is a collective sport, but this is a reason for us to be happy.
"Hopefully in the future there will be more Athletic players there, it shows we're doing well."