The importance of midfield at Athletic, by Endika Río


In football, everything revolves around the midfield, with rare exceptions for some teams. Athletic does not fit into these exceptions. It is likely that the club has greater potential in other positions, however, it is the midfield that really dictates the game, controlling the rhythms, the intensity of the pressure and the movement on the field. This is the most crucial position and one that Terzic will have a lot of work on, especially considering the excess of players in this area. Galarreta is the best example of what Athletic's "engine room" represents. Last season, when he was doing well, the team was able to smile. There were many games in which he was substituted or lost strength and the lions ended up performing below expectations. The situation became even more complicated with the wear and tear accumulated by Jauregizar. With no new signings, the hope in Bilbao lies in the potential that Canales can bring. A year ago, he played as an attacking midfielder; what little he played was as a possible replacement for Sancet, and at Racing he added new skills to his lineup as a midfielder. It will be essential that there is quality in the squad, but even more important will be that Terzic is able to choose between different profiles to implement alternative plans. Without Prados' play, Athletic's house of cards began to crumble. Galarreta and Jauregizar ended up playing many minutes on the field and the Bilbao's engine ended up wearing out. This was not the only reason why the Lions' campaign took an unfavorable turn, but it was certainly one of them.