Valverde: “We're focusing on Mallorca and nothing else”

Ernesto Valverde reiterated that his Lions are taking things one game at a time and are fully focused on Sunday's LaLiga clash with RCD Mallorca at San Mames (18:30 CET).

After the last-minute setback during Thursday's match against AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie, the gaffer has urged his team to move on quickly and take a positive attitude into Sunday's game.

"The team is doing well. Tomorrow's another match," Valverde said at his press conference on Saturday morning.

"Thursday was a hard-fought game that went the way it went. We play the second leg on Thursday, but before that, we have this match against RCD Mallorca. 

"We also have important things at stake in LaLiga. We want to stay in fourth place and that will be difficult. In the time we have, we have to focus on this match.

"At the moment, we're concerned about Mallorca and we're not thinking about anything else."

San Mamés will host a Mallorca side that has always given Athletic a good challenge in recent times. Due to this and Athletic Club's aspirations in the league, Valverde is taking the three points up for grabs very seriously.

He said: "Mallorca are fighting for European positions. They are in good form and have spent the whole week concentrating on tomorrow's game.

"We need to have a lot of energy to deal with them. They're a side we usually struggle against.

"We've had a lot of draws and games with few goals recently and I guess tomorrow will be similar. We have a lot on the line in LaLiga.

"Beating any opponent in this competition is complicated and, if we want to do it tomorrow, we need to be at our best."