Valverde: “We want to go there and win”

Ernesto Valverde promised Athletic Club will be going to Pamplona with the intention of putting down a marker in their Copa del Rey tie, saying they don't want to be relying on the return leg in Bilbao.

Los Leones take on CA Osasuna at El Sadar on Wednesday night at 21:00 CET, while the second leg takes place at San Mames on Tuesday April 4 at 22:00 CET.

"We're not going to gamble, we want to go there and win. We have to remove the secong leg from our minds," Valverde said at his pre-match press conference.

"We have to go for the game from minute one. We're playing against a solid, consistent opponent with their own style. They are similar to us in many ways. It's an evenly matched tie because of the way we're both play."

Valverde is under no illusions about the importance of a fixture which could take the Zurigorri one significant step towards a place in the final, but he also stressed that his players will have to handle that "tension".

He continued: "There is a chance to reach a final. The first match is tomorrow and we have to go for it. 

"Both teams are looking forward to it, it's a great opportunity. Statistics are written in the present and if we want to go through to the final we will have to play two good games. We have to manage the tension and passion of the match so that we don't overdo it.