Valverde: "Qualifying for the Champions League is an incredible triumph"
Valverde: "Qualifying for the Champions League is an incredible triumph"
The gaffer was in a good mood after the Lions secured Champions League football next season with a 0-2 win at Getafe
Ernesto Valverde celebrated Athletic Club's returns to Europe's top football competition and reiterated that his players must now do all they can to secure fourth place in LaLiga.
Gorka Guruzeta finally broke the deadlock against a dogged Getafe side in the 75th minute before Dani Vivian delivered the killer blow just before full-time.
"This is an incredible triumph for a team like us with a different way of competing," Valverde said at full-time.
"We've had this possilbility for a long time, especially with the gap we had and the increased number of place based on what LaLiga teams have done in European competitions.
"With an advantage you have to be precise and decisive. We have done that and achieved this. This is a dream for us and we're very happy.
"We offer it to our fans, who are always by our side."
The head coach said the team and staff would now set themselves "another challenge" of seeing whether "we can finish fourth or third".
He added: "We will exhaust all opportunities. If you have that incentive, you have to go all the way. We'll see how far we can go."