Ten reasons behind Athletic’s historic collapse | OneFootball

Athletic ended a bleak league campaign, far from summer aims, a year after matching 70 points and earning only their second Champions League berth this century. The club now face a reset under Terzic.

According to El Correo, injuries to about 15 players repeatedly stripped the side of starters. There were severe setbacks for Prados and Egiluz, and significant problems for Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, Laporte, Berenguer, Paredes and Maroan.

Key figures underperformed. Nico Williams managed a lingering pubalgia, Iñaki endured one of his leanest seasons without goals, Sancet battled muscle issues, and Berenguer struggled. Together they delivered only 15 goals.

Physical and mental fatigue from Ernesto Valverde’s high-tempo, high-pressing approach accumulated over four seasons. The Champions League also bit hard, with PSG and Arsenal among the opponents alongside Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle and Atalanta. Valverde accepted they were paying a European price.

In February president Jon Uriarte and director of football Mikel González reset the bar to 42 points and safety, a message that deepened the drift. On 20 March the club confirmed Valverde would not continue, a brief lift was followed by three defeats in four.

Mainstays kept their places while alternatives saw limited minutes. Robert Navarro was Athletic’s second-top league scorer with 6 yet played 800 minutes fewer than Iñaki Williams and almost half of Berenguer. Midfield creation faltered, Yeray’s 10 months out for doping told, and January brought no reinforcements as faith stayed with Lezama, including Iker Monreal and Jon de Luis.

Source: El Correo