Valverde: “It wasn't a brilliant match”

Ernesto Valverde admitted that Athletic Club "lacked composure" as a result of the "difficulties created by Elche" after the Lions' stalemate at the Martinez Valero.

A cagey, intense match, both sides struggled to find their rhythm, with Athletic picking up a hard-fought point thanks to some brave defending and some excellent Unai Simón save.

"It wasn't a brilliant match," Valverde said in his post-match press conference. "It couldn't have gone either way at any moment, but today's football wasn't very fluid. We lacked a bit of composure."

The boss acknowledged that the Lions "weren't good in attack" but was content with the performance from a defensive point of view.

He added: "It all comes down to getting into your opponent's area and how often and how well you create dangerous situations.

Due to the difficulties created by Elche, we lacked composure and weren't good in attack, but we were more effective in defence."