Marcelino: “We need the fans and all the players”

Athletic Club head coach Marcelino García Toral invoked the spirit of the collective ahead of the Lions’ clash with Rayo Vallecano in Bilbao on Tuesday night.

The LaLiga Santander at San Mamés kicks off at 22:00 CEST. While acknowledging the difficulties caused by such a late midweek kick-off time, Marcelino urged fans to get to The Cathedral if they can.

“I am asking our supporters to get behind us like they always do, with the fans we will be stronger,” Marcelino said at his pre-match press conference. “We know it’s an awkward day, and a weekday, but we have to make a small effort. I want to encourage the fans to come to San Mamés.“

Tuesday’s opponents Rayo Vallecano are led by former Athletic player Andoni Iraola, who is returning to The Cathedral for the first time since leaving the Lions in 2014-15. According to Marcelino, Rayo are very similar to Athletic in many ways.

He said: “They’re a dynamic, lively team that always look to play forward. They are very similar to us in terms of attacking play and they’re going to make things very difficult for us.

“These are the kind of games that will give us a chance of finishing higher up the table. We’re going to try to turn San Mamés into a fortress.”

After the 0-0 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday, and in view of the tight fixture schedule -with three games in seven days- Marcelino said he will be making changes to the starting line-up:

“We made a huge effort against Atlético Madrid,” he added. “And when the players come on and do well during matches and I see the attitude they show during training, it makes me feel completely confident in them. 

“We need all the players because the demands of every match mean we always have to be at our best and give it all we’ve got.”