Valverde: "We weren't able to convert our chances"

Ernesto Valverde believes Athletic's lack of cutting edge in the final third condemned them to defeat at Villarreal.

"It was a game of two halves," the gaffer said post-match.

"We were better in the first half, creating clear chances and we could have scored, but we didn't.

"Away games always make you change the way you play, especially against a team like Villarreal with the power they have. It's difficult to dominate from start to finish.

"They started playing longer balls behind our defence and hurt us. It's true that we weren't as comfortable in the second half.

"It's another tough result, like in other recent games, because we weren't able to convert the chances we had."

However, the Zurigorri coach wanted to take a positive view.

He said: "We lacked accuracy. It's a question of keeping working.

"If you analyse all the matches, we're always in them and there have been moments when we could have won.

"We're on a bad run now, we have to get through it, we have to be confident. Let's see if we can also get some players back."