Valverde: “I want Athletic to go for it from the first minute”
Valverde: “I want Athletic to go for it from the first minute”
The gaffer hopes the Lions can maintain their good form with Saturday's difficult away trip against Sevilla FC
Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde urged his team to come flying out of the blocks during this weekend's LaLiga clash with Sevilla FC at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Historically, Los Leones have struggled on the road against the six-time Europa League winners. However, a win on Saturday (18:30 CEST) could cement Athletic's place in the race for European qualification.
"It will be complicated. I'm expecting a better Sevilla, but I want to see Athletic to go for it from the first minute until the last," Valverde said at his pre-match press conference.
"We have to go into the match with the same attitude we've been showing so far this season."
Sevilla FC, who have secured Champions League for the past three seasons running, are suffering a difficult start to the season. They have only emerged victorious in one of their first seven matches, form which has seen them bring in Jorge Sampoali to replace Julen Lopetegui as head coach.
Valverde said: "It's a team that belongs towards the top of the table. The last few weeks has been difficult for them. Now one coach has left and another one has come in.
"Let's see how they adjust to it. There may be changes with their new coach, but we have to focus on what's important for us. Sevilla will be motivated because they're in a tricky situation. They have the resources to push on and improve. We have to give it our best shot to try and ensure the game goes our way.
"We've got a month of competition left, we'll be facing tough opponents and we want to build on what we've done so far."