Athletic Bilbao suffered a (1-0) defeat at Camp Nou against FC Barcelona in the second matchday of La Liga. The Basque side, still without points after two games, see their difficult start to the season continue. Both coaches, Terzic and Flick, exchanged greetings before kick-off.

« I know what the world of football is like: a results-driven business, » Terzic stated during his post-match press conference. The German manager fully takes responsibility for his team’s performance, despite promising starts. « I am responsible for the players’ performance. If I could change the situation, I would want six points. I am constantly aiming to win, and tomorrow, I will wake up to secure three more points. I trust this group, which works hard, and I am convinced we will turn things around. » On the pitch, Athletic showed encouraging signs in the first half, with intense pressing and chances created. Yet, offensive efficiency was lacking. « We played well, but we weren’t efficient enough in front of goal. We failed to capitalize on counterattacks to break their defense. Defensively, I am satisfied with most of the actions, » Terzic analyzed.

The Simón-Johaneko duo in the spotlight

Goalkeeper Simón, already criticized after the draw against Real Betis, was again scrutinized by some supporters. Terzic stood up for him: « What Unai is doing isn’t surprising; he has delivered these performances in recent years. » A first for Johaneko, who started in place of Yuri, absent due to disciplinary reasons. « Johaneko trains very well and fully deserves this opportunity. His performance here, against such a formidable team, was impressive. » Rincón was also deployed on the right flank, ahead of Areso in the pecking order. This rotation could prove beneficial in upcoming matches as the team looks to bounce back after another setback.

The refereeing controversy and areas for improvement

Terzić also addressed the issue of refereeing errors, which have been repeatedly mentioned after the match against Barcelona. "If five days after a match, we're still talking about the referees, then there's a problem. If an error is made twice, it's a decision. I hope everyone learns from it." This statement comes in the context of recurring tensions surrounding refereeing decisions in Spain. In the second half, Athletic lost control of the game, despite a promising first period. "In the first half, we recovered the ball better, but in the second period, we lost it again. That's the difference." Terzić and his team must now focus on their next challenge, hoping to bounce back quickly to avoid another crisis of confidence. As the Basque club tries to restructure itself after Vencedor's departure—who joined Athletic's group even before his official exit—the team must quickly find its way back to victory. A reinforcement that could prove decisive in the coming weeks.