Valverde: "It's a frustrating result for us"

Ernesto Valverde was disappointed with the final score but not with the peformance after Athletic Club fell to a 3-2 loss against RCD Mallorca at the Son Moix.

Athletic were victims of some controversial refereeing decisions in Mallorca, with the hosts being awared two penalties after debatable VAR checks, whilst Gorka Guruzeta was sent off for talking with a teammate in the 71st minute.

"It's a very frustrating result for us, given how the match went," Valverde said after the match.

"We recovered after their first goal, we were close to making it 1-2, and then came [Dani] Vivian's penalty. We protested a lot because we didn't think it was a handball.

"We still managed to equalise and just when we had the game under control, we were reduced to 10 men."

The gaffer admitted that the refereeing was "strange", saying: "I didn't enjoy it. As Athletic manager, I didn't think either of them were penalties and I would've preferred not to have had any players sent off."

Valverde also drew some positives, reiterating that he was pleased with the Lions' overall display despite the result.

He added: "We've been doing well. But the reality is that we don't have the points we'd like to have. If keeping  playing like we did today, with this intensity, we'll have a better chances."