“The remaining matches are far more important than people realise”

“These three matches are far more important than people realise. We have to stay focused and realise that we must win tomorrow to keep our options open and pull away from the bottom of the table. There’s a lot at stake.”

Ernesto Valverde has reiterated the message of concentration ahead of the LaLiga finale looming for Athletic. The Lions need a win against Espanyol to boost their chances of achieving the various objectives they still have:

“We have to treat this match with the importance it deserves because of what it can do for us in the table and to dispel any fears of scenarios that could come back to haunt us.” 

We’re facing one of the closest finishes to a season in living memory. So many teams bunched together:

“It’s incredibly tight. These are decisive matches and we have to be fully focused and mentally prepared. What worked in previous seasons might not work this time. Anything is possible. We’re playing against a team with spirit that’s always close to victory. We need to bounce back quickly.”