Valverde: "We're very happy"

Ernesto Valverde did not hide his joy as Athletic Club ended LaLiga 2023/24 with a 0-1 win against Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas that also helped Unai Simón bring the Zamora Trophy back to Bilbao.

The goalkeeper was subbed off in the 61st minute with the scores at 0-0 as he became the first Athletic shotstopper to win the accolade since Jose Angel Iribar in 1970.

"We're very happy. The truth is we wanted to finish the year well by winning the Zamora Trophy for Unai Simón and also for Athletic," Valverde said after the match.

"We hadn't won it for more than 50 years. Because of what it says to our fans, this type of trophy is very important.

"If yesterday there were 1,000 boys and girls who wanted to be like Unai Simón, that there might be 2,000 today is vital for Athletic. We wanted to win it for the goalkeepers at the club, for Unai and for the team."

It's a season for the history books. Fifth place in LaLiga with 68 points, the Copa del Rey trophy and European qualification. Nonetheless, the Zurigorri coach insisted that there is still room for improvement at Athletic Club.

He said: "It's not easy to get 68 points and it's not easy to repeat it either. Especially if you play in two more competitions. But in games like today's, we can improve.

"Next season we'll play in midweek and we'll have to be mentally prepared for a second game. We've had a great season, we've enjoyed it, but a new season is starting and what we've done doesn't count anymore."

As for the victory at Vallecas, Ernesto admitted Rayo "were superior in the first half" but that Athletic became "more consistent" in the second 45.

"When we hesitated, it didn't work for us. They could have scored and we didn't have any chances," he said.

"We had to change the rhythm of the match and in the second half we played further up the pitch and found a breakthrough."