This season (2023-2024) he is there, less than a month away, in full view, as if he were a combative escaped cyclist who knows that the peloton will hunt him down in a short period of time. How long is the league; how short, the break. Seems like yesterday. And it is that in this world where the clock runs dizzyingly, everything seems to us that it was yesterday. Yesterday, it seems to me that it was yesterday when, in mid-August 2022, Jon Uriarte Uranga, Valverde Tejedor and Muniain Goñi announced a “work meeting” to be held at the Lezama “company”. It was about agreeing on some objectives so that the Athletic Club universe knew what to expect when the ball began to roll on the green.
Europe, Europe… Geuria!… Uriarte burst in, ambitious and demanding at the same time before the two people who guarded him to the left and right of the table. Muniain and Valverde. While Iker took on the challenge from his playful and ‘playful’ side, Ernesto acted as a ‘foreman’ to whom a serious challenge was coming. It was the first time that the word ‘Europe’ was put on the table. Athletic was able to inhabit it for 25 days. The rest, thirteen, was the time the competition needed for Athletic’s ‘product’ to expire.
Ernesto Valverde, the president Jon Uriarte and the captain, Iker Muniain, posed together in Lezama (Photo: Athletic Club).
How is it possible, laments Uriarte Uranga, who shields himself in the rich world of clichés as long as the brilliance of his sports management is at the height of a whistle in all its splendor. “Details at specific times have prevented us from achieving our objectives.” From there, the president began a race of words so fast and advantageous that, if he had won it, he would place Athletic in positions in the ‘Champions League’.
they say. Everybody says. The others say. Of us. He appeals to rival opinions trying to make the considerations about the team completely objective, of more value, completely brilliant. They say about us that “we are the most aggressive team, that our defense is fierce.” So many arrivals, so many auctions, but “we didn’t hit the mark when it came to taking advantage of them.”
“Corners?”… A chorramortero!… but only two goals scored. We have the most precious treasure: the game!… the one that has allowed us to generate so much but convert so little. “We are in the good way”. There are the data, which make us creditors to better results.
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta poses as the new lion with Jon Uriarte and Mikel González. (Photo: Athletic Club)
In whose hands are the eleven points that we should have due to merit and have they been stolen from us?
Twenty-five days in European positions, by God, never having dropped from ninth place. And when Uriarte Uranga is tempted to tear his clothes, a light emerges that terrifies the rivals, flowers, red and white, big as a cross, suddenly emerge…
We have wickerwork, a metaphor for ambitious footballers capable of developing an attractive game that attracts an inordinate amount of fans to San Mamés, thirsty to drink a football that flows from the wisdom of Ernesto Valverde. And if this season could not be, let’s apply ourselves to work in order to turn the situation around. Let the fans know that, even if there is no meeting between the coach, the captain and my figure as president, ambition drives us so as not to reach the shore dead, and not allow them to land us in the Cup semifinals.
And all this, with Valverde, our leader, who gives us stability, a valued piece that arouses admiration,… Look at him, they say, Valverde, the best coach in the world, the best coach Athletic can have.
Ernesto Valverde, with a happy mood at the Akron stadium in Mexico (Photo: Athletic Club).
They talk about Marcelo Bielsa. You fools, don’t you realize that he is not a coach for Athletic? It is true that he gave me wonderful months, but his stage is over. We need stability to face a long project. Uriarte Uranga has Valverde stuck in his head. Someone could remind him that, speaking of ´stages´, with this one that ´has been given to him´, Txingurri faces the third stage and the eighth year.
A coach, Ernesto Valverde, who, when asked about the “objectives” of this football course, aware of the “Kidnapping of Europe”, instructed by the “voice of his master”, says that “his thing” is to beat San Mamés against Real Madrid, meaning that the night of August 12 is magical. And so, after seven days, being able to go to El Sadar and give Osasuna what it deserves for having stolen our dream of the final.
Athletic Club and Chivas de Guadalajara players await a set piece in Akron, Mexico.
And on the third day, more of the same, another three points. In this way, game by game, better than setting objectives, because the goal will always be further away than the next game that has just ended with a resounding victory.
Can you imagine Athletic winning all 38 league games?… Whoever is capable of imagining it will tell us that “the objective of a victory is more acceptable… than being proclaimed champion”. I want to see you there, Valverde!.. or as Jose Iragorri said and continues to say, ´Hoss´, in that house of his that is called the ´Press Room… I want to see you there, Athletic!
• By Kuitxi Pérez, journalist and ex-soccer player
#imagine #Athletic #winning #LaLiga #games
