Terzic before his first Basque derby: “Play with a cool head”

Edin Terzic will experience his first Basque derby as Athletic Club head coach this weekend. The German takes charge of his team against Real Sociedad at San Mamés, where he wants his players to combine the emotional energy of the occasion with the clarity required to beat an opponent in excellent form.

• This is Terzic's first derby as Athletic coach and his first night game at San Mamés.
• The manager asks his players to show emotion and control it when necessary.
• Real Sociedad have won four consecutive LaLiga matches.
• Terzic and Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo know each other from Germany.
• The Athletic boss picks out Oyarzabal as a key figure in reading the game.

What Terzic's first derby at San Mamés means

The Athletic coach made no secret of his excitement ahead of his first competitive meeting with Real Sociedad. He had a first taste a month ago in the friendly EH Txapela match at Anoeta, which the Bilbao side won 0-1, but this weekend's contest carries LaLiga points.

Terzic said he has experienced special derbies both as head coach at Borussia Dortmund and during his earlier spells as an assistant at West Ham and Besiktas. That background reminds him that these matches involve three elements: the heart, the head and the purely football side.

Derbies are full of emotions and we have to be ready for those emotions. Show emotion when it is needed, control emotion when it is necessary and also play with a cool head.

What winning a derby is worth for Terzic

The German coach played down the consequences of losing this type of fixture. In his view, losing a derby means losing three points, just like any other game, but a victory can bring something more than a simple move up the table: it can send a message to the rest of the competition.

Still, Terzic stressed that this is a very important football match, with one difference he considers most significant above all: winning or losing. He avoided adding further interpretations about what it means emotionally for the fan bases.

The relationship between Terzic and Matarazzo

The derby will also bring together two old acquaintances from the Bundesliga. Edin Terzic and Pellegrino Matarazzo have a relationship that goes beyond purely professional matters, and the Athletic coach praised the work of his counterpart at Real Sociedad.

According to Terzic, the American coach immediately brought good stability to the San Sebastián side and has a clear idea and vision of the football he wants to develop. Those compliments do not stop the German from focusing his message on his own team's strengths and on creating problems for the opponent.

How Real Sociedad arrive at the derby

Athletic come into the game with high morale after the 4-0 win over Getafe and their cup progress, but Real Sociedad are in even better form. The Donostia side have won four LaLiga matches in a row and travel to San Mamés in an ideal state of mind.

Terzic analysed the qualities of the txuri urdin team: they like to press, are comfortable sitting in a mid block and are dangerous on the counter-attack. He also highlighted their ability to combine in midfield and their tactical flexibility, making them an opponent with many options.

We will respect the opponent, but once again we will focus more on ourselves.

Athletic's special attention to Oyarzabal

Asked about the need to watch any Real Sociedad player closely, Terzic avoided singling out individuals too much and preferred to speak about the collective. However, he did admit that Mikel Oyarzabal deserves special attention for his ability to interpret matches.

The Athletic coach recalled that the Real Sociedad captain has won a World Cup as a starter and is a key player for his club. Beyond his quality on the ball, he highlighted Oyarzabal's intelligence in reading the game and his technical connection with Oskarsson, as well as the strong physical level of those around him.

Frequently asked questions about the Athletic - Real Sociedad derby