Valverde wary of in-form Espanyol: 'Manolo will give us problems'
Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde shows respect for high-flying Espanyol ahead of crucial La Liga clash as the Lions look to close gap in standings.
Valverde Expects Tough Test Against Former Club
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao face a proper banana skin on Monday night as they take on an Espanyol side sitting above them in the table despite having played a game fewer. The gaffer’s not mincing his words about the challenge ahead.
After navigating a tricky Copa del Rey tie, Valverde sees this league clash as a crucial opportunity to climb the standings and close the gap on their opponents.
Respect for Espanyol’s Form
Valverde was quick to praise Manolo Machado’s Espanyol, who’ve been one of the surprise packages this season:
“They’re enjoying one of their best spells of the season and they’re a reliable team,” Valverde noted. “They’re above us in the table and we want to close that gap. We need to try and break their momentum.”
The Athletic boss clearly rates his opposite number, adding that “Manolo will give us problems because they’re doing very well.” Proper respect between the two gaffers, that.
Personal Connections
This fixture holds special meaning for Valverde, who has deep connections with the Catalan club:
- Espanyol gave him his first chance to play in La Liga as a player
- He also managed the club earlier in his coaching career
- He maintains close friendships with people at the club
“I always have great memories of the teams I’ve been at, especially Espanyol,” Valverde reflected, showing his class.
Injury Updates and Squad Status
On the fitness front, there’s some decent news for Athletic fans:
- Robert Navarro could return to the squad
- No fresh injuries from the Copa del Rey match
- Yuri Berchiche and Aymeric Laporte remain sidelined (and won’t be available for the Osasuna match either)
Attacking Concerns
The Lions have been struggling to find the onion bag this season, something Valverde acknowledges needs addressing:
“This year in terms of conversion, we’re not posting our best numbers,” he admitted. “Several players have had physical problems, though we’ve brought in Robert who’s scored four goals. We certainly need to improve our offensive production.”
2025 Reflections
As the year winds down, Valverde offered a measured assessment of Athletic’s 2025 campaign:
“There have been many more highs than lows, but it’s clear that this half of the season we’re not doing as well as the previous half of 2025. If we were doing equally well, we’d be off the charts. But we haven’t finished yet.”
With the table tighter than a duck’s you-know-what, Monday’s clash against Espanyol represents a golden opportunity for Athletic to close the gap on their rivals and finish the year on a high note.