Valverde: “We feel as if we can do anything”

Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde's admitted the Lions' recent form has left his players in confident mood as they get ready to race local rivals Real Sociedad in this Saturday's Basque Derby at San Mames (18:30 CET).

Los Rojiblancos are currently fourth in LaLiga EA Sports and go into the clash on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

"When you are winning every match that comes your way, you don't fear anyone," Valverde said at his pre-match press conference. "You draw inspiration from that and we feel as if we can do anything.

🆙 "It's a good feeling to believe that we can do anything."

"Winning breeds confidence and that's important when preparing for football matches."

More from Ernesto Valverde's press conference 👉 https://t.co/aTCeI9U6y3#AthleticRealSociedad #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/xcWZoqrV95

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) January 12, 2024

"We can't be careless, of course. We're perfectly aware of who we're facing. What I know won't change for sure is that the team will give everything on the pitch, just as they do in every match and every day in every training session."

The coach admitted the Basque Derby is one of the matches he first looks for when the fixture list is released and spoke about the match's importance in terms of both teams' ambitions this season.

He said: "Given where we are in the table, it's an important three points for both of us. If they beat us, they'll be three points behind us, and if we beat them, we'll be nine points head.

"But what ever happens, we've just started the second half of the season. There's still a lot of football left to be played."

Valverde described Real Sociedad as "a solid team", while reiterating that absences count for little in a fixture like this.

"In a derby, you don't think about those who are missing," he added. "All the players available will be desperate to play this match. It will be a top-level encounter because both teams are in good form."

The gaffer was emphatic in his response when asked if the derby had become 'less authentic' in recent years, saying "it is still extraordinary".

He added: “We don't need confrontations for it to be something special. In fact, for me, when there are brawls, those derbies don't interest me at all.

"I understand there are people who may or may not like that. I don't want to be controversial. But for me the football matches themselves are already good enough.

"Real Sociedad and Athletic are in good situations. I hope we could play matches in similar circumstances every year. We like to play, we like football, and the better the football, the better for everyone.

"I'm sure it will be a tough match, because it always has been. It was tough before, it's tough now and it will be tough in the future too."

To conclude, Valverde reminded the press that after Saturday's derby, the Lionesses will play at San Mames on Sunday in their Copa round of 16 tie against Madrid CFF.

"This is a great weekend for the club. Hopefully we can celebrated it with victories," the gaffer stated.