Terzic faces right-back call at Athletic, with Rincón back and Vivián an option | OneFootball

In 15 days, Edin Terzic will lead his first Athletic session at Lezama on 8 July. According to El Correo, the German and his staff must fix problems from last season, starting with stability at right-back.

Terzic has already been working at Lezama in recent days. As things stand, he will have three natural options at right-back, Areso, Gorosabel and Hugo Rincón, after Ernesto Valverde used up to four players in that role.

Athletic paid 12 million to sign Areso from Osasuna, though his first campaign fell short of expectations. Even so, he made 35 appearances across four competitions, 26 in La Liga, five in Champions, three in the Copa and one in the Supercopa, ahead of Gorosabel on 34 and Lekue on 19.

Gorosabel still logged more minutes, 2,047 to Areso’s 1,940, underlining the churn in the position. Terzic will need to choose between Areso and Gorosabel, while Rincón returns from a personally positive loan at Girona that ended in team relegation.

Rincón featured in 33 league rounds and two Copa ties for 1,928 minutes, adding one goal and two assists. He is contracted until 2028, so Terzic must decide whether to keep him or sanction a departure while staying with Areso and Gorosabel.

Valverde also used Vivián at right-back at times, including against Getafe and Real Madrid in the league and Real Sociedad in the Copa. It remains to be seen whether Terzic continues that variant or restores the Vitorian to centre-back with Laporte, Yeray and Paredes.

Source: El Correo