The atmosphere at Athletic Club has been agitated after the forceful statements of its captain, Iñaki Williamswho showed his dissatisfaction with the transfer of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabiacategorically describing the situation as “shit”. Faced with this burst of honesty, his coach, Ernesto Valverdehas opted for a more institutional and conciliatory tone during the press conference prior to the match against Osasuna, ensuring that the forward “It wasn’t very successful” in their forms.
Valverde emphasized that, regardless of personal preferences regarding the competition format, team members must be “be careful with expressions” that they use before the media. However, the coach did not ignore the personal context surrounding Williams, who became father for the first time last Thursday. According to the coach, the fact of having to travel thousands of kilometers from home at such a significant time for his family life is a factor that can “disrupt” the player’s perspective and affect their mood.
Despite the empathy shown, Valverde was clear when defending the benefits that this controversial tournament brings to the Bilbao entity. The coach stressed that participation in Saudi Arabia is not only a logistical issue, but also provides a sports prestige fundamental and the real possibility of add a new title to the club’s showcases. Furthermore, he recalled the importance of economic viability, openly mentioning that “our club is charging to go there”a factor that the reality of modern football cannot ignore.
For the coach, although the absence of local fans is a negative point, it is imperative to maintain the respect for the competition and the established format.
