JEDDAH.- The coach of Athletic BilbaoErnesto Valverde, admitted that the possible absence of the playmaker of the Barcelona, Dani Olmo, “it is better” for his team, in the press conference prior to the first semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup that will face the two historic teams of Spanish football on Wednesday in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
Barcelona’s efforts to register the Spanish international for the second part of the season have been met with refusal from the rectors of Spanish football due to the club’s difficulties in complying with financial fair play.
In a last resort so that both Olmo and the young Pau Víctor, who is in the same case, can play in the Super Cup, the Catalan club has requested precautionary measures before the Higher Sports Council, which should rule in the coming days.
“Evidently, Olmo is an extraordinary player and if he can’t play tomorrow (Wednesday)… what can I say? I regret the situation he is in, because he is a player who, if he can play, ultimately brings prestige to the competition, but If he doesn’t play against us, it’s better,” declared the Basque coach, former coach of FC Barcelona.
Doesn’t think about the past
“Yes, I know that my last game with Barça as a coach was here, it seems that in the same stadium. I don’t have any thoughts about this. It happened, I am in other circumstances, very happy and tomorrow is another game, I don’t think about anything special “Valverde declared when journalists reminded him that his last game on the Barça bench was the defeat in the Super Cup semi-final against Atlético de Madrid in January 2020, a result that led the club to dismiss the coach.
If they defeat Barcelona, Athletic Club, current champion of the Copa del Rey, would play the final on Sunday against the winner of the second semi-final, who will face Real Madrid against Mallorca on Thursday.
