Valverde rues Bilbao lost opportunity

Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde was left to lament his side’s inability to overcome a resolute Real Sociedad at San Mames on Tuesday.

The Basque derby ended all square after Alberto de la Bella had equalised Aritz Aduriz’s controversial opener from the penalty spot, and Valverde lamented the fact his team were unable to overtake Malaga in the quest for a Europa League place.

“We don’t have a good taste in the mouth, neither for the game or the result,” Valverde told a post-match Press conference.

“We missed a good opportunity to put the pressure on Malaga but we must continue fighting for seventh spot.

“Real Sociedad were very good tonight and we were not as good as I’d expect us to be, while they reacted well to the sending off [of Mikel Gonzalez].

“They defended well and scored a great goal when the player looked as if he was going nowhere.

“That equaliser strengthened them and after that we lacked the patience and quality to decide the match.

“I don’t know if our goal was a penalty or not but it was important in the context of the game,” he concluded.

Tags Valverde
La Liga - Club News