Williams backtracks on Saudi blast but stands by sentiment ahead of Supercopa clash
Athletic Bilbao captain Iñaki Williams clarifies his controversial comments about playing in Saudi Arabia while setting sights on upsetting Barcelona in Supercopa semi-final.
Athletic Bilbao’s captain Iñaki Williams has softened his stance but not his sentiment regarding the Spanish Supercopa being held in Saudi Arabia, as his side prepare to face Barcelona in Wednesday’s semi-final in Yedah.
Clarifying controversial comments
Just a week after bluntly stating that “going to play in Arabia is rubbish,” Williams has adopted a more measured tone, following his club’s recommendation for players to show more respect in their public statements.
“Given what happened, being natural and saying things as one thinks means you need to be more careful,” Williams admitted during the pre-match press conference. “The words I used weren’t appropriate, but it’s still a raw deal for our fans.”
The forward explained that his manager, who has more experience with media duties, advised him before the press conference to try and defuse the situation. While Williams acknowledges his choice of words could have been better, he remains firm on his core point—that playing without Athletic’s supporters present makes a significant difference compared to hosting the tournament in Spain.
Embracing the underdog role
Despite the controversy, Williams was bullish about Athletic’s chances against Barcelona:
- Acknowledged that many international fans might only know La Liga through Barcelona and Real Madrid
- Reminded everyone of Athletic’s 2021 Supercopa triumph when they weren’t favorites
- Believes being the “Cinderella” of the tournament could work in their favor
- Suggested Athletic’s counter-attacking style might exploit spaces against Barcelona
“We’ve come to win,” declared Williams. “We understand people might not know Athletic and only follow La Liga through teams like Barça or Madrid, but we’re capable. We’ll show up.”
Captain’s ambition
The elder Williams brother spoke passionately about what it means to represent Athletic in this competition, emphasizing that competing for a trophy is always special. He referenced their previous Supercopa success when they defeated both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“I’ve always dreamed of being the next Athletic captain to lift a trophy,” Williams stated. “I’m more than ready, eager to keep dreaming and help the team.”
With both teams experiencing mixed form recently, Williams dismissed the importance of momentum in a one-off fixture, suggesting that Barcelona—despite their struggles—could “wake up” at any moment.