Athletic Club Prepares for Supercup Semifinal Against Barcelona

Athletic Club has embarked on its journey to Jeddah, where it will compete in the Supercup semifinal against Barcelona this Wednesday. The team is on a charter flight, anticipating approximately seven hours of travel. Considering the time zone difference, the squad is set to arrive at the Hyatt Jeddah Hotel around 11:30 PM, located about 25 kilometers from the match venue.

Iñaki Williams, who recently expressed criticism regarding the choice of Saudi Arabia as the tournament’s host country, will serve as one of the club’s spokespeople at the pre-match press conference. Last week, the captain stated that “playing in Arabia is unpleasant,” prompting coach Valverde to note that Williams may have overstated his sentiments. “I’m not sure if he chose his words wisely. We are competing for a title, and our club benefits financially from participating there. Naturally, we would prefer to have our fans present, but we must remain respectful,” Valverde emphasized.

This time around, Williams is expected to adopt a more measured tone in his remarks, reflecting the approach taken by players Robert Navarro and Guruzeta following the recent league match against Osasuna. Both players adhered to the club’s directive of maintaining maximum respect to help steer the narrative positively. Valverde excused Iñaki Williams from any exaggeration in his comments, explaining that the player was navigating a complex personal situation, as he spoke during the final stages of his wife’s pregnancy with their first child, Niko, who was born on January 1, 2026.

Athletic Club has announced its roster for the Supercup, featuring an image of Iñaki Williams alongside the list of 25 selected players. Included in the squad are Santos, a goalkeeper from the reserve team who often travels for Champions League matches, Eder García, a reserve midfielder who scored in Bilbao Athletic’s latest victory, and Monreal, a central defender from the second team who has been called up previously. Additionally, Selton and Rego, players registered with the reserve team but integrated into first-team activities, are also part of the lineup.

Players unable to participate due to injuries include Yuri, Laporte, Maroan, Egiluz, Prados, and the suspended Yeray, who will continue their training at Lezama. In 2022, when Athletic reached the final on their initial call-up, there was no room for injured players Nuñez and Vencedor. However, following the semifinal match, Athletic arranged for the central defender to join the preparation for the final.