Iñaki Williams set for diplomatic role as Athletic head to Saudi Super Cup
After controversial comments about playing in Saudi Arabia, Williams will represent the club in pre-match press duties with a more measured approach.
Athletic Club’s star forward will adopt a more conciliatory tone when addressing media in Saudi Arabia, following his previous criticism of the tournament’s location.
Athletic Club are on their way to Jeddah for Wednesday’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Barcelona, with a seven-hour charter flight taking the Basque side to their Saudi Arabian destination. The rojiblancos will be checking into the Hyatt Jeddah Hotel, roughly 25 kilometers from the stadium where they’ll face the Catalan giants.
Williams to tone down previous criticism
Iñaki Williams, who didn’t exactly mince his words last week regarding Saudi Arabia hosting the tournament, has been selected as one of the club spokespeople for the pre-match press conference. The skipper previously made headlines with his blunt assessment that “playing in Arabia is rubbish” - though I’m putting that rather politely compared to his actual phrasing.
Manager Ernesto Valverde later acknowledged Williams had gone a bit over the top with his comments, noting: “We’re playing for a trophy and our club receives money for going there. We all wish fans could be there, but we need to be respectful.”
This time around, the elder Williams brother is expected to deliver a much more measured message, following the club’s strategy of maximum respect to smooth things over. The club has somewhat excused Williams’ previous outburst, noting it came during a personally challenging time when his wife was in the final stages of pregnancy with their first child, Niko, who was born on January 1st.
Squad details for Saudi trip
Athletic have announced their 25-man traveling party with Williams prominently featured in the promotional materials. The squad includes several Bilbao Athletic (reserve team) players:
- Santos, the reserve goalkeeper who typically travels for Champions League fixtures
- Eder García, a midfielder fresh from scoring in Bilbao Athletic’s recent victory
- Monreal, a center-back who has previously been called up to the first team
- Selton and Rego, officially registered with the B team but regularly training with the senior squad
Meanwhile, injured players Yuri, Laporte, Maroan, Egiluz, Prados, and the suspended Yeray will remain at Lezama training complex. This approach differs slightly from 2022, when the club arranged for injured Nuñez to join the squad after they’d advanced to the final.
The Basque outfit will be hoping to go all the way in a competition that’s a proper earner for the club, despite being a right pain in the backside for the supporters who can’t make the trip.