New Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde said he was ‘satisfied’ with his players in their first pre-season outing.
Los Leones beat La Tercera outfit Bermeo 6-1 and Valverde said he was particularly pleased with 22-year-old central midfielder Erik Moran, who is looking to break into the first team next season after seeing just 10 minutes of La Liga action in his time at the club.
“I wanted to see how Moran functioned in a central position and he did well, but it was a typical pre-season match. However, it was a good exercise for the new boys and to see how the youngsters manage in the first team, and I was satisfied with my players,” he told reporters.
Valverde fielded a different starting line-up in both halves and declared he was ‘especially happy’ to have visited Bermeo following a fire in the Basque town back in April that left 70 people without homes and destroyed four office buildings.
Oscar de Marcos opened the scoring on 10 minutes and doubled his tally three minutes later before striker Aritz Aduriz added a third five minutes before the break.
Bermeo did get on the scoresheet just before the half-time whistle but second-half goals from Gaizka Toquero, Kike Sola and Benat Etxebarria ensured Bilbao ran out easy winners.
