#2 FM16 – Athletic Bilbao Season Report!
Hello guys, on my latest update all of you guys might know we are performed very well during the first term in La Liga. Sit in 5th position and unbeaten for 8th games in a row before entering the winter transfer. In another competition, we are also doing well in Europa League and qualified to the next round. So how we finish the La Liga? How’s the progress in Europa League? Who is the Player of The Season? You’ll figure it out!
It was bad opener in second half of the season where we are unable got 3 points against Celta Vigo at Balaidos. After win against Las Palmas at home, we are unable to get 3 wins in a row which Sevilla, Barcelona and Eibar hold we up. Won against Getafe and Villareal put us back on track to European spot, after that we are unable to make any single chances against Los Blancos side which we are lost 3 goals against nil. Games after Madrid is become much much better, we got 4 unbeaten games in a row against Sociedad, Valencia, Deportivo and Sporting Gijon. After that everything become not too good for us, fortunately Sevilla failed to finish above us where they are sit in 6th position right below us in final day. We finished the campaign with poor performance in San Mames against Sevilla by 1 goal to nil. It wasn’t good campaign overall. We played well in first half of the season where we can fought against Deportivo to get playoff spot to European Champions League, but unfortunately inconsistent cost us to sit in 5th position and get Europa League Spot next season.
EUROPA LEAGUE
Our campaign in Europa League wasn’t the best campaign that we’ve expected. Play against Augsburg in first knockout round, we couldn’t played well and qualified with away goal advantages with aggregate 1-1. Second round is much better than the first, play against Belgium side Anderlecht, we won 4-0 at San Mames. Flew to Anderlecht we have to hold them and securing quarter final spot, but we almost fail to make it happen as Anderlect won by 3 goal to 1, we are lucky this time! Played against England side Liverpool in Quarterfinal, we are unable to put good performance, finishing our campaign with aggregate 3 goals to 1. Qualified to the next round is such a big pleasure for me after a year experience as a manager and also we are exceeding board expectation by reached Quarter Final. Next year, we were expecting to doing well and at least reach semi final.
COPA DEL REY
Another Quarterfinal blew us. We had another chances to meet Los Blancos. But, we fail to make those chances and lost in aggregate 6 goals to 2. Next year, Copa Del Rey expectation is higher than last season. We were expecting to do well and at least reach semi final.
Well in the second half of the season, there are many injuries happened against us. Cost us a poor performance during the second term. But, there is someone who played above expectation this season and help us secure Europa league spot next season, he is Raul Garcia. He is played very well in terms of attacking and defending. Scored 3 goals, he also created 204 key passes last season. Played in 27 games for us last season in La Liga, he is expecting to do the same and more next season.
Overall, it was a normal season (not too bad and not too good) which you can found us at 5th positition at the table. Next season we were expecting to get higher result than the last. Currently, I’m doing the second season. A lot of offer come to bring my players out from San Mames. Laporte, Itturaspe,Williams and some key players were targetted by several European big clubs. But, I have to hold them as we have higher expectation next season. Minimum expectation for next season is qualify to UCL football. Some young players is also back to the squad after loan spell. One must player to watch is Ager Aketxe. Played brilliant in Bilbao he got promotion to main Athletic squad. I think it’s time for Kepa Arrizabalaga to prove his ability and replace Gorka Iraizoz which getting older. It’s become last season for Gurpegi and will played for AFC Astra next season.
I hope you guys enjoyed my article, see you next season!
Muchas Gracias
Clearcutchances 