Valverde: "We're in this fight, it's not all said and done yet"

Head coach Ernesto Valverde said Athletic Club must keep going in their fight for European qualification, reiterating that with five fixtures left, nothing has been settled yet.

On Saturday evening, the Lions face fifth placed Villarreal CF at the Estadio de la Ceramica knowing that a postive result could cut the gap between Athletic and the European places.

"We have to focus what's in front of us, on winning every game, and we'll see about the rest later," Ernesto Valverde said at his pre-match press conference. "There are five games left, we're still in this fight and it's not all said and done yet.

"When we start my aim is always to be in contention for Europe by time we get to the last few games. Now is the decisive part and we have to go for it.

"We've had moments of tension and pressure since day one, but when the big games come around, as well as putting all your strengths on the pitch to limit the opposition, you have to really believe that you can win.

The boss said this is a "classic match" between "two teams that know each other well". The Yellows, on 54 points, are three places ahead of Los Rojiblancos in LaLiga Santander

Valverde added: "We have different playing styles. They have a lot of technical quality. We have pace, maybe we lack a bit of the patience they have in certain moments of the game.

"But I'm sure they would also like to have some of the things we have. They're having a great season and although had a rough patch they've come through it well."