{"id":7534,"date":"2025-03-07T00:19:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T00:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/athletic-club-coach-valverde-enthusiastic-about-roma-atmosphere-after-2-1-defeat\/"},"modified":"2025-03-07T00:19:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T00:19:24","slug":"athletic-club-coach-valverde-enthusiastic-about-roma-atmosphere-after-2-1-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/athletic-club-coach-valverde-enthusiastic-about-roma-atmosphere-after-2-1-defeat\/","title":{"rendered":"Athletic Club coach Valverde enthusiastic about Roma atmosphere after 2-1 defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"ROME,<\/picture><\/div>\n

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 06: Ernesto Valverde, Head Coach of Athletic Club, gestures prior to the UEFA Europa League 2024\/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between AS Roma and Athletic Club at Stadio Olimpico on March 06, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde was impressed with Roma, both on and off the field, in the Europa League tie. \u2018I hope we can have half the atmosphere they had tonight.\u2019<\/p>\n

The supporters had been told to come to the Stadio Olimpico with simple yellow and red flags, so the thousands followed those directives and made it a beautiful sight before kick-off.<\/p>\n

It helped the Giallorossi complete their comeback from the Inaki Williams header, turning it around through Angelino and the last-gasp Eldor Shomurodov winner.<\/p>\n

At that point, Athletic Club were down to 10 men for the second Yeray Alvarez yellow card.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about the referee,\u201d said Valverde in his press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did start handing out cards a bit too early and easily, but I have nothing more to add to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yeray will therefore be suspended for the second leg in Bilbao next Thursday, while Valverde fears injured Daniel Vivian also won\u2019t be able to recover in time.<\/p>\n

Valverde impressed by Roma home fans<\/h2>\n
\"epa11945274
epa11945274 AS Roma\u2019 supporters before the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg soccer match between AS Roma and Athletic Bilbao at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 06 March 2025. EPA-EFE\/ETTORE FERRARI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe are strong at home and I hope we can have half the atmosphere they had tonight. It was an extraordinary atmosphere, so passionate. We still hope we can turn it around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true that Roma are a good team, they have players like Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Matias Soule who can change a game, but we are still playing the second leg on our home turf.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as we got into the locker room, we were already starting to think about the return match at the San Mames. All we can do is win in our stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Roma fans brought a sea of red and yellow flags for their game against Athletic Club \ud83d\udd34\ud83d\udfe1\ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com\/wOERO8WSH3<\/p>\n

\u2014 Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 6, 2025<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Shomurodov winner came with the last kick of the match, just as the 10 men of Athletic Club thought they\u2019d done enough for a 1-1 draw.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is never a good moment to concede a goal, but when we scored, they started to push constantly. We had it all under control, except for when we were a man down and they found the decisive move. When a game is balanced, there is never a good time to concede.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Athletic Club are considered by many to be the favourites to win the Europa League this season, Valverde warns this will be a very tough Round of 16 tie.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoma are a strong team, they are not weak. When you are repeatedly forced back, you tend to just kick the ball away.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething didn\u2019t work tonight, but we must look forward.\u201d<\/p>\n