Terzic defends Hugo Rincón and Johaneko’s starts at Mestalla

Edin Terzic defended the inclusion of Hugo Rincón and Johaneko in the starting line-up at Mestalla, where Athletic faced Valencia in the ninth round of Liga. Laporte also returned to the side after missing the match against Rayo. The decisions came after a performance Terzic considered below par during the 13 minutes played at Vallecas, with the two preceding matches against Elche and Alavés also proving difficult before the break.

Before kick-off, the coach said the changes rewarded work on the training pitch. “We want to reward good performances in training. The three players coming in today also deserved to play last week,” he said. On Johaneko, he pointed to his display on the left in the Basque final against Real, as well as his speed and determination in one-on-one situations in both attack and defence. Terzic said Hugo Rincón and Jesús were at a similar level and explained that Hugo had trained particularly well that week, earning the chance to start.

Laporte’s return was another part of the selection Terzic defended. The coach also recalled the defender’s difficulties before his absence: after returning from international duty, Laporte had said he was not ready to play. The staff gave him time to rest and carried out preventive work. He then rejoined the group in part before completing the day’s session and becoming available again, Terzic said.

Rincón and Johaneko were the main surprises in Athletic’s line-up for the match. The rest of the team was unchanged from the side named at Vallecas. The trip to Mestalla followed a postponement at Ciutat de València and the interruption of the Vallecas match. For Terzic and the club, there was also a need to bring the focus back to football. Storms threatened at Mestalla.