Athletic Club's new coach, Edin Terzic, is preparing for his first home derby against Real Sociedad, having won his first match at EH Txapela a month ago. On October 28, at the San Mamés, the txuri-urdin will seek to consolidate the streak of four consecutive victories in LaLiga and maintain the pressure they have imposed on their rivals this season.
Terzic, who joined the club in the summer after a successful spell at Borussia Dortmund, has emphasized that rivalry matches are unique and that the difference between winning and losing comes down to emotional and mental management. “Derbies are full of emotions and we must be prepared for them,” he explained from Lezama. “We must show emotion when necessary, control emotion when required and play with a cool mind.” According to the German, each match is the same in terms of ball, field and goals, but the loss of a derby can cost three points, while a victory can send a strong message to the competition.
Athletic arrives at the event with high morale after the 4-0 win over Getafe and the recent victory in the Cup. Terzic has stressed that the only relevant difference is winning or losing and that the team must focus on its own game. “We are going to respect our rival, but once again we are going to worry more about ourselves,” he added. The coach has also highlighted his relationship with his former Bundesliga teammate, Real Sociedad coach Matarazzo, and has highlighted the stability that the North American brought to the club.
For its part, Real Sociedad arrives at the derby with four wins in a row and a style of play that combines pressure, medium block and danger on the counterattack. Terzic has pointed out that the team is “very flexible and fluid” and that the key will be to generate concern in the rival. As for San Sebastian players, the coach has mentioned Oyarzabal, who, although he is a starter in the World Cup team, does not always stand out in Real's game. “He is a key player, but he is not the only one who scores goals,” said Terzic, underlining the importance of the team's collective quality.
With Athletic looking to maintain their streak and Real Sociedad looking to continue their momentum, the derby promises to be an exciting encounter. The result will not only determine the position in the table, but also the message that each club will send to its competitors in the season. Fans will be able to enjoy a night of intense football at the San Mamés, where passion and strategy will be at the heart of the Basque rivalry.