"If we all give our best, we'll have a better chance of going through"

Oscar de Marcos and Ernesto Valverde are hopeful that San Mamés will spur them on to further progress in the UEFA Europa League, reiterating that Athletic Club are hard to beat when The Cathedral is on top form.

Los Leones are 2-1 down on aggregate, so only a win will be enough to see them go through to the quarter-finals.

"You can feel it in Bilbao. There is a lot of excitement about this competition, you can feel it in the atmosphere. That's special and it helps," De Marcos said.

"It's very important that we all pull together. We're stronger together. For the good of Athletic, we need all of San Mamés with us tomorrow and from now until the end of the season.

"That's what we all want. Fans and players have to try to give our best. If we all think like that, we'll have a better chance of going through."

Despite Roma's having a slight advantage, the skipper is optimistic about Athletic's chances.

He said: "We have think positive. It's true the result is in Roma's favour, but we have to win at home.

"We have some absentees, but there are some good players available and we're all ready for it."

The no.18 emphasised that Athletic are prepared to go all the way to penalties if necessary, saying the match has the feel of a final about it.

"In Europe and in the Copa, you play 'finals' as you go through the rounds and tomorrow we have another one," he continued.

"These matches are long, sometimes they go to 120 minutes, so we need to go step by step. What's important for us is to win and even if that means going to penalties."

Oscar analysed Roma as a side that can adapt to different "characteristics and tempos", but stressed that Athletic must concentrate on their own game.

He added: "What we do will have a big influence on whether they play well or not. We'll focus on our own game, that's what works well for us. We have the ability to get the better of any team."

Valverde reiterated that the result in Roma means Athletic "have to win".

"Nothing else will do. A match like this comes along and it's normal to be nervous or emotional," the gaffer said. "The build-up is much worse because you're eager for the moment to come.

"Tomorrow is a definitive match here at San Mamés. I hope there will be a great atmosphere and that we can connect with the fans so that they can get behind us.

"When the fans are engaged, every team is harder to beat. We have to take advantage of the fact we're playing at our stadium."

In a similar vein to his captain, Valverde said his players must focus on their own game, saying "if you don't play well, then nothing else matters".

He continued: "Roma can play with a lot of different styles because of the potential they have, but we have to focus on our game. That's what gets you results. We were good there, but tomorrow will be another matter. We're desperate to mount a comeback.

"There are situations in which everything is very tactical and it seems that the scales won't tip either way, so you need to find a breakthrough somehow.

"Sometimes that's in our interest, but you always have to have a bit of control. We have to play with heart and also a cool head so we don't concede. The key is balance between the two."