Valverde: It's so cold, I was protesting to warm myself up

In a previous Champions League match, Athletic Club drew 0-0 with Slavia Prague.

After the match, Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde attended the post-match press conference.

On the match:

"As I expected, it was a very competitive game. The team knew we had to be strong in duels, and any loss of possession could cause us trouble. We tried to press higher up the pitch and did create chances. Sanchez had a good chance in the first half, and Navarro had one in the second. The team performed better in the second half than in the first, but the overall pace of the game slowed down. I think the team performed quite well in the crucial moments of the game."

The team's chances of advancing are now precarious:

"Considering the intensity of the match, a point is commendable; we still have room for improvement. A loss in this game would have been a huge blow to morale. We created chances in this tough match, and I think a point is good; at least the team can leave with a positive attitude. There are no easy games in the Champions League; we must keep moving forward. We know there's a gap between us and the teams ahead, but calculating the gap at this point is meaningless. Our goal is to advance to the knockout stage, and we will prepare seriously for the next European match. Our next opponent is Paris Saint-Germain, a real tough opponent."

Regarding your substitutions:

"I made substitutions considering the players' physical condition. Some players were already struggling to keep up towards the end, and substitutions helped us maintain our energy and create more opportunities. However, the pace slowed down in the latter part of the game, which wasn't a good thing for us."

Regarding your protest against the card:

"It's so cold, I was protesting to warm myself up."

Regarding Selton:

"Every time Selton touches the ball, I feel like something's going to happen. Selton is still young, and what he needs to do now is improve his physical condition, which can't be done overnight. Selton needs to continue accumulating playing time." "He needs to withstand the pressure and gradually adapt; our idea is to help him grow through matches."

Regarding Unai Gomez:

"In my opinion, Unai Gomez is fully capable of playing as a center forward. He creates many opportunities for the team. Unai can create space for his teammates, break into the penalty area himself, and even play on the wing when necessary."

Regarding Areso:

"Areso is a player who likes to charge forward, and he still needs to adapt to our style of play. I always like to talk about a player's strengths. Areso is adjusting his defensive philosophy, and we are helping him."