The Athletic Club Chronicle
Squad10 May 2027
Tempers go at Athletic Club
Richardson Rivas was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad10 May 2027
Words at Athletic Club training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Paulinho Boia is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The terraces10 May 2027
One of their own: Luis Felipe
He is 23 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
Match8 May 2027
Athletic Club see off Confiança
Three points for Athletic Club, 2‑0 the final word against Confiança in a contest settled by the finer margins.
Market10 May 2027
Guilherme Neves steps up from the Athletic Club academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Guilherme Neves has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Market10 May 2027
One of our own: José Rocha joins the Athletic Club first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. José Rocha is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
The dugout10 May 2027
Ronaldo gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Player ratings10 May 2027
Paulinho Boia was unplayable
Successful dribbles: 16. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Player ratings10 May 2027
Luis Felipe was the difference for Athletic Club
Marked 7.90. Ask anyone leaving the ground what settled it and you will get one name, which is the only award that has ever really counted.
In brief
- The dugout Somebody else is better right now than Rodrigo Lugo
- The dugout The view from the dugout
- The dugout Paulinho Boia knocks on the manager's door