Ernesto Valverde: Antoine Griezmann needs to get move involved

Ernesto Valverde was disappointed by Barcelona’s defeat by Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames in the La Liga opener. Here are his key quotes:

Antoine Griezmann: If he lives close to the box he can finish, he moves well, but you have to dominate the game for that to happen. Putting him on the left we knew that he will look for goal, but e have a left-back and players who can take the game. (However) we expect a lot from all the players and he has to look to get in the game more.”

First half: It was not good, but the best chances were ours although we didn’t do well, we were too far back. In the second the game was ours and we corrected the situation.

Luis Suarez: Luis has a problem with the calf and his injury set us back because in the second half we spent a lot of time in Athletic’s box and lacked finishers there.

Leo Messi: It’s true we’re used to playing in a way and Leo shines in a lot of situations because he beats a man or filters a pass through. We’re not all like him and we have to learn to cope when he’s not there. It’s inevitable to miss him, but we need to do other things too. We have to transform possession into goal chances, that’s what counts.”