Athletic Club Prepares for Copa Del Rey Quarterfinals Amid Injury Concerns

Athletic Club will compete this Wednesday against Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, but they will be without the services of Sancet, who has sustained his fourth injury of the season, marking the third occurrence involving his hamstrings. The Navarrese attacking midfielder is eager to return to fitness as soon as possible, but like Nico, he will need to consult with an external specialist. Mikel González stated, “We are going to engage those specialists to address these injuries. Sancet has improved his availability by 20% compared to last season. He is dedicated to recovery and is currently at the peak of his maturity and training over the past four years. His commitment and work ethic deserve recognition.”

The club’s executive also defended Luis Prieto, the physical trainer for the first team who joined the staff this season and has faced considerable criticism due to the team’s performance and injuries. González explained, “The responsibility of physical trainers extends only as far as the tasks set by the coach. Valverde has been the head coach for the past four seasons. The criticism directed at Luis Prieto is quite unfair, as the injury situation is not solely a recent development; it is multifactorial, and we are working to resolve it.”

Regarding the winter transfer market closure, the Director of Football assessed the situation and clarified why the club chose not to recall any players currently on loan in the Segunda División. “We have explored all options thoroughly. We have a dedicated department for monitoring, which includes video analysis and regular meetings with these players. Given the recovery of several injured players and the opportunities within the Bilbao Athletic, we prioritized these factors before considering breaking loans. The players on loan have developed significantly and will be an even better option in the summer,” he remarked.

González was directly questioned about Manex Lozano, stating, “Manex is transitioning from Segunda RFEF to Segunda División, but he possesses all the attributes required for professional football, particularly in terms of physical intensity and high speeds. His performance metrics are quite interesting and important. We agreed to the loan to Racing due to strong interest, and Manex’s characteristics could offer him numerous opportunities. We are pleased with his progress; however, we must not place too much pressure on him. It is likely that he will return in the summer, although he may also have opportunities for further loans to professional football.”

The Director of Football also addressed Areso’s performance, acknowledging that the player’s underwhelming form is reflective of the team’s overall challenges. He left open the possibility that Selton, during a less congested part of the season with fewer midweek matches, may have the opportunity to play with the Bilbao Athletic should Valverde decide he won’t receive sufficient minutes with the first team.