Athletic Club manager Marcelino Garcia Toral and captain Iker Muniain both insisted the Lions are not at the Spanish Super Cup to make up numbers and that Athletic have come to win.
The Rojiblancos face current Supercopa champions Real Madrid on Thursday night (21:00 CET), and a victory could see Athletic take on either FC Barcelona or Real Sociedad in the final on Sunday.
“The team has come to win the tournament,” Marcelino said at his pre-match press conference from La Rosaleda, setting for Thursday’s semi-final. “We know it will be difficult, Real Madrid are one of the most competitive teams, even more so in tournaments like this.
“But we’re determined and ambitious. The team is capable.”
The match against Real Madrid will be Marcelino’s second in charge of Athletic after last week’s LaLiga Santander fixture with Atlético Madrid was postponed. And the boss wants to see his side continue in a similar vein to the start against FC Barcelona.
“We want to develop upon the positive performance we put in at the beginning of the match against Barça,” Marcelino added.
“We’ve worked hard to come up with a plan so we can go toe to toe with Real Madrid.
“We’re two matches away from winning a trophy and we’re going to go for it.”
As for the opponents, stressed that Athletic’s defence will have to be on top form when facing Real Madrid’s attacking talents, saying: “We must defend better than we did against Barça.
“But I also want us to attack. We’ll try to scare Real Madrid when we’re in possession of the ball.
“Only that way will we be closer to winning.”
Iker Muniain echoed the words of his head coach, reiterating that the squad is raring to go.
“We’ve come here absolutely desperate to win,” Muniain said. “It’s a very important trophy for us and for the fans.”
Athletic’s captain has no doubts the lions are more than capable of beating Real Madrid and going on to the final.
“It’s going to be a demanding 90 minutes, but this is a semi-final and anything can happen. We want to play in the final on Sunday,” he added.
“We have a good chance of defeating Real Madrid”
The road to the second final (III): Real Betis
First Team
It took a 94th-minute equaliser and penalty shootout for the Lions to seal their place in the semi-finals
Dani García: “Barça are favourites, but we’re full of hope”
First Team
Dani García acknowledges Barcelona’s quality but is confident the Lions can overcome them in their Copa final at La Cartuja
The road to the second final (II): CD Alcoyano
First Team
After going a goal down in the first half, Villalibre and Williams headed home in the second to book the Lions’ place in the quarter-finals
The road to the second final (I): UD Ibiza
First Team
Raúl García and Unai Nuñez scored the goals as Athletic came from behind to progress to the next round
Marcelino: “We must concentrate on the positives”
First Team
Marcelino García Toral looks ahead next Saturday’s Copa final against FC Barcelona with confidence despite not being able to take all three points on Saturday
Stalemate against Deportivo Alavés
First Team
Inspired Pacheco denies Athletic at San Mamés
Confirmed line-ups: Athletic Club vs Deportivo Alavés (LaLiga Matchday 30)
First Team
The XIs for today’s LaLiga Santander clash at San Mamés (kick-off, 16:15 CEST)
Marcelino: “When you take a blow, you have to pick yourself up”
First Team
The boss is happy with how the team responded to the Copa setback and hopes to see more of the same against Alavés on Saturday
Squad list: Athletic Club vs Deportivo Alavés (LaLiga Matchday 30)
First Team
The 21 players called up by Marcelino for the LaLiga match against Alavés at San Mamés
30% off New Balance products
First Team
Athletic’s official 2020-21 training collection is now on sale at reduced prices