Yuri Berchiche: “Sometimes a wake-up call can be a good thing”

Athletic Club player Yuri Berchiche spoke to the media at Lezama ahead of Tuesday’s match against CA Osasuna, a game the dressing room sees as a “final” for the remainder of the season: “I’m not thinking beyond this match. If we win, I’m sure we’ll get into the fight for Europe, and if we lose, we’ll have problems at the bottom. We have a final against Osasuna and the points have to stay at home,” he said.

The left-back described the current campaign as “difficult”, marked by inconsistency that the team has been unable to correct despite keeping a similar core to previous seasons. “We have to look at ourselves and identify where the problem lies. The team is practically the same, but everything is much harder for us,” he explained.

The Zarautz native also had words for the San Mamés crowd, acknowledging their high expectations but also their key role in this decisive stretch of the season: “Sometimes a wake-up call can be a good thing. What can I say about our fans? People pay for their ticket and if they don’t like the spectacle, they have every right to express it. I have zero complaints about them. In fact, I think that at another club we would have been whistled much more. Obviously, it hurts when they whistle you because you know you’re not doing things well, but I’m convinced they will be with us on Tuesday. We need them to carry us from minute one to 90, and if at the end they don’t like what we’ve offered, they can express their opinion again,” he said, stressing that the team needs them “more than ever”.

Despite the situation, Yuri acknowledged that the squad still aims to qualify for Europe: “It’s two matches away, that’s the reality. We have to convince ourselves it’s possible, but also be aware of what’s coming from below, because they’re getting closer,” he noted, underlining the need to face the situation “without fear of fear” and with a collective response: “We all have to row in the same direction, team and fans, and be stronger than ever”.

On a personal level, the defender admitted the emotional toll the season is taking on him: “There have been many nights when I haven’t slept. It’s being a very tough year for me,” he confessed, although he said he feels good physically and on the pitch.

From a sporting perspective, he lamented the suspension of Yeray Álvarez, whom he described as “one of the captains and leaders of the dressing room”, adding that his absence, along with injuries, “has hurt the team a lot”.

He also expressed his support for head coach Ernesto Valverde, whom he considers “the best coach” he has ever had: “I feel sorry for everything that’s happening around him and around us this year. We have to try to make his farewell as beautiful as possible,” he added.

Finally, Yuri stressed the importance of unity heading into the final seven matches of the season: “We all have to pull together to get through this. Once the season is over, there will be time for evaluations. Right now, the focus is on winning on Tuesday.”