Marcelino: “We’re convinced we can beat anyone”

Athletic Club manager Marcelino promised the Lions will not look to shut up shop against LaLiga Santander leaders Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night (19:00 CET).

Athletic have not lost in their last seven LaLiga fixtures and the Gaffer is keen to keep that run going.

“We’re going to make life difficult for them [Atlético Madrid],” Marcelino said about Athletic’s intentions at his pre-match press conference.

“We won’t be changing the way we play. We have a style and it’s working well for us.

“The players are convinced they can be any opponent.”

Athletic currently sit in eighth place in the LaLiga Santander table, and a win on at the Wanda Metropolitano would be a great boost for the Lions in the fight for European spots.

“It [a win] would put us higher up the standings,” Marcelino added. “We would pick up three important points and put ourselves us in the battle for Europe.”

Despite Athletic being in great form, Marcelino is well aware of the difficulties involved in winning points at the Wanda, where Atlético have only lost one league game all season. Nonetheless, Athletic’s manager is relishing the challenge.

“We’ll have to be at our best,” he added. “We’re in great form, playing at a great level but there is no doubt beating Atlético de Madrid would be an endorsement of our abilities.

“Playing a match against the leaders is incentive enough.”