Valverde under the cosh as Athletic face crucial Copa clash with Valencia
Ernesto Valverde acknowledges results must improve ahead of Athletic Club's vital Copa del Rey quarter-final at Mestalla, with injuries mounting for Los Leones.
Despite feeling the backing of the club hierarchy, Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde admits that football is ultimately a results business as his side prepares for Wednesday’s crucial Copa del Rey clash against Valencia.
Pressure mounting on Valverde
The gaffer’s been proper mardy lately, and who can blame him? Athletic’s league form has gone right down the swanny, leaving the Copa as their best chance for silverware this season.
“I’d like to be less angry, but everyone expresses themselves as they believe,” Valverde confessed ahead of the quarter-final tie. While he acknowledges the consistent support from the club’s leadership and Lezama academy staff, he’s under no illusions about what really matters:
“I know that in football you have to win and results are what count. I’m not concerned with the noise around me - if you win, everything’s fixed, and if you lose, the manager gets the finger pointed at him.”
Injury crisis deepens
To make matters worse, Athletic are facing a proper injury nightmare with several key players doubtful or ruled out:
- Vivian hasn’t trained for over a week
- Laporte’s fitness remains uncertain
- Berenguer likely unavailable after receiving an injection
- Nico Williams’s status unclear
- Sancet definitely out with injury
- Long-term absentees remain sidelined
The one bright spot is Yeray’s return to training, with Valverde expressing his delight: “It’s a joy to have him back. He’s worked alone and now needs to get back into the group dynamic.”
Valverde confirmed that Padilla will start in goal against Valencia, while hinting a youth team centre-back might be called up due to the defensive crisis.
Valencia challenge awaits
Despite Valencia’s recent defeat, Valverde isn’t taking them lightly, noting they won six points from their previous matches before losing to Betis. He’s expecting a hostile Mestalla atmosphere that “pushes their players” and “makes Valencia surpass themselves.”
With both sides just one victory away from a semi-final berth, Wednesday’s knockout fixture represents a massive opportunity to salvage something from the season.
“We know what the Copa means,” said Valverde. “In recent years we’ve been a team that reaches the semi-finals, which generates excitement and drives us forward.”
League struggles continue
Valverde shouldered responsibility for Athletic’s inconsistent league form, admitting: “Sometimes we can’t explain why games slip away from us, but if it keeps happening, we have to look at it because something’s wrong.”
The manager acknowledged the mental challenges his squad faces, emphasizing the need to handle all phases of matches better - including those moments when momentum shifts against them.