Terzic backs Iñaki Williams’s “first final” description

Terzic shares Iñaki Williams’s view that Athletic’s meeting with Getafe can be approached as a “first final”. On the eve of the match, the coach said the phrase made sense if it reflected a real demand, rather than serving as a pre-match slogan.

“I have no problem calling matches finals if that means playing every one as if it were the last of the season,” Edin Terzic said from Lezama. He said he understood the captain, while stressing that what matters is the team’s performance. In his view, pressure grows when a big club suffers a run of poor results.

Athletic go into the match having taken only three points from twelve and after a heavy defeat against Levante. Getafe, meanwhile, face the fixture amid a storm following public exchanges between Bordalás and Ángel Torres. With this match, Athletic will be close to completing a quarter of the Liga season.

Terzic acknowledged that his team are not where they want to be, despite victories against Celta and Atlético. He nevertheless believes their performances have improved. “My job is not to find excuses, but to look for solutions,” he said, referring to injuries, the delayed start of the Liga, the break and not playing for 28 days. He also said the team were unhappy with some things seen on the pitch and with the results.

The coach also pointed to tactical errors in the match against Levante. He saw positives in the opening phase and an improvement compared with the game against Valencia, but said the 1-0 scoreline disrupted Athletic’s rhythm. “We need more discipline and greater conviction, even if an error like the one for the first goal happens,” he said, describing such moments as a challenge rather than a reason to give up.

In terms of style, Terzic wants to combine quick transitions with greater control in positional play. He noted that Athletic had threatened in this way against Celta and Atlético, but said the option would not always be available when opponents prevent them from running. Against a Getafe side he described as comfortable with different defensive blocks and pressing approaches, he believes Athletic need more clarity in positional play. “We have made progress, but we are not yet where we need to be,” he said.