Terzic, ahead of his first derby: "Emotion and a cool head"

Terzic prepares for his first Basque derby as Athletic manager against Real Sociedad, seeking balance between emotion and tactical discipline.

Edin Terzic will make his debut in the Basque derby tomorrow night at San Mamés, his first evening match in the stadium as Athletic manager. He had a preview of the rivalry a month ago in a Copa del Rey tie, which Athletic won 1-0 at Anoeta, but this La Liga fixture carries full points.

Athletic arrive in good form after a 4-0 victory over Getafe and a Copa advance, while Real Sociedad are on a four-game winning streak in La Liga. Terzic, who has managed derbies at Dortmund and as an assistant at West Ham and Besiktas, emphasised the need to balance emotion with tactical control. "Derbies are full of emotions and we have to be prepared for those emotions," he said from Lezama. "Show emotion when needed and control it when necessary, and also play with a cool head."

Terzic acknowledged that a derby victory carries psychological weight beyond three points—it can send a message to the rival and the wider league. He also noted his prior connection with Real Sociedad manager Matarazzo from their Bundesliga days. On Real's threat, Terzic highlighted their pressing intensity, counter-attacking danger, and technical fluidity in midfield, singling out Oyarzabal as a key player who reads the game well and links effectively with Oskarsson.