Athletic Club Prepares for Key Match Against Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán

Athletic Club will visit Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán this Saturday to face Sevilla. The rojiblancos are keen to harness the momentum from their recent victory in Bergamo, a sentiment echoed by coach Ernesto Valverde during the pre-match press conference, where he also evaluated their opponent, discussed the officiating in Mallorca, and addressed the status of injured players.

Regarding the recovery of injured players, Valverde stated, “They did not participate in the full training session. We need to give Aymeric more time; I hope he will be ready next week. The other day, the unavailable players certainly would have traveled had they been fit to play. If they can participate tomorrow, they will, otherwise, they will not.”

Valverde expressed optimism following the recent victory, saying, “Victories always instill confidence, and a win like the one we achieved recently boosts that feeling even more. Athletic is not accustomed to winning away in the Champions League, nor to participating in it. We experienced a challenging situation, managed to come back, and it showcased our competitive spirit.”

On the significance of the upcoming match, he noted, “All teams are closely packed in the standings, especially within this critical phase where there are no significant gaps. We are very close to Sevilla and have been inconsistent lately. This second half of the season is crucial, and this is an important match for both sides.”

Valverde acknowledged the stress from an intense match schedule, adding, “We are experiencing high levels of stress, which increase when results are unfavorable. Our performance in LaLiga has not been satisfactory, and this stress can make us feel more fatigued. However, victories like the one we had recently help alleviate that somewhat. Our performance on Wednesday should motivate us to deliver a strong showing tomorrow.”

He described Sevilla as a resilient team, stating, “Sevilla showed great character in their last match against Elche, where they fought hard despite the loss. They did not deserve to lose and ultimately managed to avoid it. They are in a position of urgency, similar to us. I expect a competitive Sevilla, as they always fight until the end.”

Reflecting on the team’s mindset, Valverde remarked, “One must manage situations as they come; it is better to approach with a sense of hope rather than lamenting past losses. Our focus is on this game, especially following our unfortunate match in Mallorca last week.”

He addressed the officiating in Mallorca: “This situation highlights the discrepancies between perceptions. We were awarded two questionable penalties, and there was one clear incident where we could have received a penalty in that context. Ultimately, the referee makes the decision based on what they believe is right at that moment.”

On Adama Boiro, Valverde praised his contributions: “Adama has performed exceptionally well since joining Athletic, particularly in highly competitive matches. He has played against teams like Arsenal and PSG. He brings a lot to our team, and we have high expectations of him.”

Lastly, he discussed Robert Navarro, highlighting his potential: “He possesses incredible abilities as a player but needs to strengthen his defensive game. When he was performing at his best, he suffered a severe ankle sprain. He must maintain ambition and commitment on the defensive end.”