Imanol: “I want to play as many minutes as possible“

Athletic Club left-back Imanol García de Albéniz said his objectives this season - his first in top-flight football - are to keep improving defensively and to get as "many minutes as possible".

The 23-year-old, who has been with Athletic since he was 10, started Los Leones' first three fixtures of the campaign, but was on the bench for the clash with RCD Mallorca.

"I'll play wherever the coach puts me, I'm here to make selecting the starting eleven more difficult for him," Imanol said at a press conference on Wednesday morning. "I feel very good and I'm working to improve my tackling. I think I'm getting there and I'll try to keep improving."

Imanol made "a dream debut" as he played the entire 90 minutes in Athletic's LaLiga opener against Real Madrid at The Cathedral. 

He said: “In a packed San Mames against Real Madrid CF, it was amazing. Especially after being away on loan for two years and after a long injury absence."

As for the upcoming LaLiga clash against Cádiz CF in Bilbao on Saturday (14:00 CEST), the full-back is certain the Andalusians will be tough opposition.

"In this division all the matches are difficult because all the teams are very good," he added. "Cádiz are a very strong side, we've already seen that in the first few matches. They're going to make life difficult for us, but we're prepared for it.