Yeray: "We want our fans to be excited"

Athletic Club defender Yeray Álvarez said the players are desperate to keep fans in high spirits by maintain the current unbeaten streak in LaLiga, which now stands at four matches and stretches back a month.

Los Leones have only suffered defeat once in their first five fixtures of the season, a 0-2 home loss to Real Madrid on the opening day of the season. What's more, the Zurigorri defence has kept clean sheets in three of those matches.

"The results are exciting for us and for the fans. We want to keep this run going for as long as we can. The team is committed and we're playing at a very high level," Yeray said ahead of Athletic's upcoming Basque derby against Deportivo Alavés at Mendizorrotza on Friday night (21:00 CEST).

🔝 @yerayalvarez4 on our current unbeaten streak:

📈 "The results are exciting for everybody, but this has just begun. We have to maintain this good form."

More from the centre-back's presser 👉 https://t.co/qJcJ8HIXMS?utm_source=athletic-club.eus&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=actualidad-athletic-club&utm_content=yeray-we-want-our-fans-to-be-excited#AlavésAthletic #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/IzQtZN6GQt

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) September 19, 2023
 

He continued: "At Athletic Club we defend as a block of 11 and thanks to that the results are going our way."

The centre-back overcame an injury complaint to get his first piece of action this term in Saturday's 3-0 win over Cádiz, coming on in the 68th minute.

He said: "I feel good, fully recovered. I think I'm fit enough to play 90 minutes, but that's up to the coach to decide."

As for Friday's derby in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the no.5 believes Athletic are in for a tough fight, with Deportivo Alavés having won both their home games so far this season.

"They got good results in the two matches they've played at home, but we've got good momentum," he added. "We have to be focused and as prepared as possible in order to get the three points."