Valverde: "It was a display worthy of the team we are"

Head coach Ernesto Valverde said Athletic Club can be proud of how Los Leones performed at San Mames on Tuesday night despite the fact they were knocked out of the Copa by CA Osasuna.

Athletic came into the second leg 1-0 down on aggregate. Iñaki Williams levelled the tie on 33 minutes, but just as the match seemed set for penalties, Pablo Ibañez scored to send Los Rojillos through to the final.

"I think we played well but we weren't clinical enough, even though we managed to level the tie in the first half," Valverde said in his post-match press conference.

"We played well, we attacked and we always tried to create goalscoring situations. We thought we were going to penalties as the least bad thing and in an isolated action they scored a goal."

The gaffer reiterated that his Lions must put this match behind them and "keep going", especially as European qualification via LaLiga is still on the cards.

He said: "We mustn't forget that this is a sport. We want to control and dominate everything, but in the end it's about getting it right and making sure the opposition don't.

"We did almost everything right, but we must also recognise that they did a good job defensively and congratulate them for it. Naturally, we're a bit down, but we must keep going."