LOPETEGUI: "THE TEAM SHOWED CHARACTER, PERSONALITY AND AMBITION TO TURN IT AROUND"

10/07/2020

The manager was very happy with the side's dominance in the second half

Julen Lopetegui has spoken to official media after the important victory at San Mamés. The Basque manager was very happy with the team's reaction against Athletic Club: "The victory is very important because there are fewer and fewer games left and this was going to be complex, more so when they have gone ahead almost without having done anything. It wasn't easy from a psychological point of view, but the team showed character, personality and ambition to turn it around. We have the Europa League mathematically assured, but we want more, logically".

The Sevillian coach also referred to the superiority of his team, despite having fallen behind to a rare attack from the home side: "In an isolated move they scored a goal against us, and that affects you psychologically, so at the end of the first half it was a very flat game, but until the 30th minute we were superior. In the second half we were superior from start to finish, we scored two goals but we could have scored more".

"By winning today, Mallorca have hope to save themselves and are a dangerous team"

He was also asked about Bono's performance, who started due to Vaclík's injury: "He was good and calm. He made a good save at the end and he's worked all year to have this opportunity, and I'm happy it's gone well for him, he has to keep helping us".

To conclude, the manager is looking ahead to Sunday's clash with RCD Mallorca in Nervión: "Now we've got Mallorca, who, by winning today, have hope to save themselves and are a dangerous team, because they are the type to cling to a lifeline. We have to rest, prepare well and confront it".