Valverde: "This momentum will give us a boost"
Valverde: "This momentum will give us a boost"
The gaffer previewed Tuesday's Copa del Rey round of 16 clash with Deportivo Alavés (21:00 CET)
Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde is confident the Lions' good form will push them on as they get set to play a fourth match in the space of 12 days.
The Lions are unbeaten in all competitions since October and have won all three matches in this start to 2024, but Valverde insisted the team cannot afford to take a backward step.
"Three matches in one week. We know what kind of effort that requires. There's no time to rest and we've got a lot at stake," he said ahead of Tuesday's Copa round-of-16 clash against Deportivo Alaves at San Mames (21:00 CET).
"Right now we're doing well in the league, but tomorrow's match is a different competition. It's a definitive game because one team will continue and the other won't.
"We have to leave everything out there on the pitch. Hopefully our current momentum will give us a boost."
The gaffer singled out Deportivo Alavés' competitive edge when talking about Tuesday night's opponents.
He said: "They never give up. In terms of fitness, they're at a really high level and I like that they always show lots of spirit."