Vivian: “We’re in good shape for this final sprint”

Athletic Club centre-back Dani Vivian is feeling confident as the Lions approach the final part of the season. After a two-week international break, Los Rojiblancos are back in LaLiga action, taking on Elche CF at San Mamés on Sunday afternoon (14:00 CEST).

The Lions are currently in eighth place, seven points off sixth, and with nine games left, there are 27 points up for grabs before the season comes to an end.

“We’ve had two weeks to prepare for this match, the most important match for us at the moment,” Vivian said at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “There are nine games left, some of which are against direct rivals for a European place.

“We believe in what we’re doing and I think we’re in good shape for this final sprint. First we have to beat Elche and then we’ll start to think about Villarreal.” 

Vivian reiterated his trust in all of his teammates while talking about the impact Iñigo Martinez’s recent absence has had on the squad. He said: “Iñigo is a legend, but I have a lot of confidence in all my colleagues.

“You only have to see their commitment, dedication and effort in every training session. We’re all rowing in the same direction, and as a group we’re approaching this great challenge of getting into Europe.”

Elche, 14th in LaLiga Santander, are coming to Bilbao off the back of two wins and three losses in their last five fixtures. Vivian singled out their direct style and physicality as potential dangers.

He said: “We saw it in the first match of the season, it was a difficult game and we’re expecting the same thing this Sunday. We’ll have to be alert, we’ll try to impose our typical high-tempo style, and if we can do that, we’ll take home all three points.

When asked about Marcelino’s future, the centre-back responded by saying: “I’d love for him to stay with us for a long time. He gave me my top-flight debut and we’ve grown a lot with him as our coach. I hope he stays.”

Many young players have managed to establish themselves in the first-team squad this season and Vivian praised the work being done at Lezama.

“There are some very good people coming through and, most importantly, we’re feeding off each other,” he added. “The effort and discipline you see every day in Lezama is the best example for anyone. You see, you learn and you copy. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to watch and learn as I am doing, because it’s the best way to grow.”