Berizzo won over Mendilibar in Urrutia's casting
EibarTOMendilibar are strong to replace Ziganda but Urrutia is decanted by Berizzo
The slates of Toto Berizzo and Jos Luis Mendilibar collide this Sunday in Ipurua.The Basque derby faces two technicians of a marked offensive character, who defend their idea of play with all its consequences. Two coaches who want their teams to be protagonists, although the way to achieve it is very different.
Berizzo likes to control the balland fill the opposite field with marks to man.Mendilibar prefers attack on the wingsand the fewer touches are needed to reach the rival goalkeeper, much better.
Both are two technicians liked by Josu Urrutia.In the case of the Argentine coach is something obvious, because otherwise it will not be the current owner of San Mams bench. But Mendilibar also likes the Atletico president. And a lot. In fact,the technician of Zaldibar was on the list of the highest leader in Vizcaya to replace the Kuko Ziganda just a few months ago.There were contacts but the thing stayed there and the chosen one ended up being Berizzo.
Mendilibar himself fuels those rumors at the end of last season.The azulgrana preparer denied that the Royal Society had knocked on his door, but did not do the same to deny the call of Athletic."Do you want me to tell you the true?",asked Mendilibar in an interview in the COPE Network about the hypothetical interest of the Vizcano group, to which the journalist, as he could not be otherwise, answered affirmatively."Well then I'm not going to tell you", answered Zaldibar.
Berizzo ended up landing in Ibaigane and Mendilibar renewed his contractual commitment with Eibar for a season with option to a second.He did this by expanding his salary and increasing his decision-making power in the planning of the workforce. In Ipurua you will not have the tools that could possibly facilitate your work in San Mams, but you feel loved and protected by all the estates of the club, something that is increasingly more difficult to find in a short-term and result-oriented world like football.
The technical vizcano has a thorn stuck with Athletic for more than a decade.The rojiblanco set allowed him to make the leap to the top category after an excellent season with Eibar in which he stroked the ascent. However, his adventure in Bilbao lasted only nine days.
Lamikiz was forced to dispense with his services after adding 6 points out of 27 possible.The wound left by Athletic's departure is healed, but the dream of returning to San Mams remains intact. Berizzo took away that possibility a few months ago. Who knows if there will be another opportunity.
