Athletic Club's victory over Real Sociedad in the League match has been a cause for celebration and reflection for goalkeeper Unai Simón. After receiving the Yashin Trophy, considered the award for the best goalkeeper in the world, Simón addressed the San Mamés fans, thanking them for the ovation and explaining the importance of the victory for the team's position in the table.
The match, which was played at the Athletic stadium, was decisive for the red and white club, which sought to consolidate its position at the top of the standings. Simón highlighted that the previous season had been complicated, with the team “looking more down than up.” In that context, winning against Real Sociedad represented a moral and strategic boost, since “today was a very important game in that sense, and winning it has a lot of influence when it comes to where to look now in the standings,” explained the goalkeeper before his performance on Saturday against Osasuna.
During the match, Simón made several key interventions that prevented Real Sociedad from scoring. Their performance was so outstanding that the team was forced to win, according to commentator Murgia, who added that the teams at the bottom of the table “add up.” The goalkeeper, who has also appeared on the DAZN platform, showed a solid and confident performance, keeping the goal intact against the red and white attacks.
Regarding the award, Simón commented that “it's time to give everything normality, so that my emotions don't get the better of me.” He accepted that acting naturally is the most difficult, and appreciated the atmosphere at San Mamés, where the fans gave him a standing ovation. "It's very nice. The fans enjoy games like this, especially because they feel identified with the players on the field," he added.
The goalkeeper also faced controversy over a penalty awarded to Real Sociedad. When asked about the Nico Williams case, Simón admitted that, from his position, it appeared that the defender touched the ball, although he had not seen the action repeated. “I trust the VAR, I trust the referees and I understand that these decisions have been made because that is how it is,” he stated, making clear his respect for the refereeing authority.
With the victory, Athletic Club advances in the table and prepares for the next derby on Saturday against Osasuna at El Sadar, after having drawn against Alavés and winning at home against Real Sociedad. The club seeks to maintain consistency and continue competing for qualifying positions, while goalkeeper Simón continues to be a fundamental pillar in the red and white defense.