Terzic sees positives and shortcomings in the win at Anoeta

Terzic took both positives and negatives from the win at Anoeta. Although it came in a friendly, the result mattered to the coach, who was pleased that Athletic had recovered a feeling that had eluded them in their two matches before the break. “It is good to win again,” Edin Terzic said.

The coach did not hide his reservations about the performance. “We are happy, but we did not like the first half as much, especially the first fifteen minutes, when we lacked a little rhythm and intensity,” he said. He compared that start with the internal match played the previous week, where, in his view, some passages had been more intense. The second half pleased him considerably more.

The match also came during a long break for Athletic. Terzic said the meeting with Real Sociedad was important both to restore the team’s rhythm and to see on the pitch players who had not featured much up to that point. He also wanted to give them an opportunity. Although they were involved in the less convincing minutes, he said they all performed well afterwards and that the group was pleased with them.

The goal was another part of his assessment. After the team had failed to convert some chances in its previous two league matches, Terzic was glad to see a goal arrive, however it came. He stressed the importance of his centre-forward scoring, while adding that everyone was welcome to find the net. In his view, Maroan showed different energy after scoring.

His satisfaction was not complete: Terzic regretted that his team had not scored more despite creating chances. Athletic had several opportunities in the second half to extend the lead, but Maroan’s header was the only goal added to the scoreboard.