Valverde: “We want to finish as high up the league as possible”

Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde was adamant his Lions will keep pushing to finish the season on a high note.

A win over Celta will secure a fifth-place finish, but the gaffer isn't giving up hope on Champions League qualification even though it's now out of our hands.

"We're looking up. Right now we could finish fourth, fifth or sixth," Valverde said at his pre-match press conference.

"The maths is clear. As long as there's a chance, we must aim to finish higher. It's true that it's complicated, but we have to compete and  be ready to try to go all the way. We want to finish as high up the league as possible."

The Lions will go up against a Celta side who can guarantee their survival with victory at Balaidos on Wednesday night.

He said: "We're facing a team in a relegation battle. There'll be a great atmosphere at their ground and they'll be waiting for us with a knife between their teeth.

"They've changed their style, playing with a more attacking approach and you can see they're more confident. They're optimistic, with salvation just a step away, and they're doing well. Let's see if we can respond to all that."

Valverde gave his side a "10 out of 10" when asked to grade Athletic's season, reiterating that it's been "a great season".

He continued: "We've given it our all. Sometimes we can get things right or wrong, but we've been competitive and given everything in every game to achieve our objectives.

"Let's be clear we would've taken this season as it is at the beginning of the campaign. In LaLiga and in the Copa, it's been a great year and a great season in every sense.

"We've always had the objective of finally winning it and it was an immense joy for the dressing room, the club and everyone who supports Athletic."