BILBAO – Íñigo Martínez said, after eliminating Real Madrid in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup, that Leo Messi, who missed the other semifinal against Real Sociedad due to injury, is expected to “not reach “in the Super Cup final on Sunday so that Athletic Bilbao have” more options “to win it.
“It will be another tough match against a great rival that we suffer at home in the league. We hope that Leo does not arrive and so we will have more options,” the international center-back said bluntly.
Who, like all of Athletic, has remembered Gaizka Garitano, The coach who made it possible to reach this Super Cup and dismissed ten days ago.
“The players, unfortunately, are used to these situations. It was not easy because we had a lot of love for Gaizka and his team and if we are here it is for him. Now Marcellí has arrived, who has fitted in well, with other ideas. that it will be necessary to take it progressively “, it reflected.
For Iñigo, today’s victory has been “an immense joy after having suffered both against a team like Madrid”. “With hard work and sacrifice we got what we wanted, which was to be in the final,” he welcomed also having a few words for Raul Garcia, author of the two goals of his team a month after being expelled in Valdebas in the minute 13.
“When a player makes a mistake he feels guilty, he first, but that day we wrapped him up. He wanted to throw the penalty and we were confident he was going to put it in,” he added.
And already on the last play, reviewed by the VAR for a possible penalty by Unai Nuñez, he said he did not think “how to whistle a penalty.” “I see it touches his head and then he can give it to his hand (it was on his shoulder), but I don’t think it’s like whistling a penalty,” he considered.