Valverde: “We must return to the reality of LaLiga"

Ernesto Valverde reiterated his Athletic Club players must put "the Copa final to one side" and focus on their upcoming LaLiga fixtures.

After defeating Atletico Madrid to secure a place at La Cartuja, Los Leones welcome FC Barcelona to Bilbao this Sunday at 21:00 CET.

"We must return to the reality of LaLiga," Ernesto Valverde said during his pre-match press conference on Saturday evening.

"We'll try to take advantage of the positive momentum and the confidence after reaching the final of the Copa and make sure that it translates into LaLiga as well.

"This match has come really soon. It will be another enormous effort, but we have to approach it in the same way."

Valverde insisted the Lions have to focus on the daily grind and not get ahead of themselves even if there is a "final on the horizon".

He said: "We have to be at a high level going into the decisive moments of the season. We have to compete and train in exactly the same way as we have been doing.

"We have to take advantage of every game to improve our position in LaLiga. We don't have to think about much more. We'll just take it day by day."

FC Barcelona will be a tough nut to crack after the monumental effort required against Atlético, according to Ernesto

"Not much has changed since we played them in the Copa," Valverde continued. "They've changed certain tactical things, but they haven't lost any of their attacking play."

"They're on a good run of games and have momentum. We're expecting a great team and we'll have to play well to win."