Prados: “We must keep our feet on the ground, Osasuna will be difficult”
Prados: “We must keep our feet on the ground, Osasuna will be difficult”
The central midfielder praised Athletic's current form as they prepare for Saturday's derby at El Sadar, the Lions' final match of the year
Central midfielder Beñat Prados reiterated that Athletic Club cannot afford to lose focus despite their fine form in LaLiga and the Europa League.
The Lions are unbeaten in Europe with two League Phase games left and haven't tasted defeat in LaLiga EA Sports since October.
"It's very good for a team to get used to winning. Nonetheless, we must keep our feet on the ground," Prados said at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
"We know where we've come from, what it has taken to get to Europe after so long. The mentality is to match last season and progress in all competitions as much as possible."
The Pamplona-born footballer admitted Saturday's derby against Osasuna (18:30 CET) is a "special" fixture for him given his connections with the city.
He said: "I'm not going to lie, it's special. They're my hometown team, I have a soft spot for them and I have many friends who are Osasuna fans. I made my debut against them and it's something I will never forget.
"They're a very difficult opponent at their ground and we know what a derby is like. It's always difficult and it will be difficult to get the three points, especially on the road. It's the last game of the season and we're desperate to win it."
At Lezama since under-15 level, the midfielder praised the competition for places at Athletic, saying how it gets the best out of every player.
He said: "The competition for places is good and with us playing so many competitions it's important. If we want to be at the top end of the table, it's fundamental that Ernesto can rely on different players.
"The whole team pulls together and you can see that on the pitch."