Athletic Bilbao head coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted that the current campaign is the most challenging he has faced since returning to the club. Speaking ahead of their clash against Espanyol, Valverde did not hide his frustration, noting that results have not matched the standards of previous seasons.
Despite a recent disappointing loss to Valencia, Athletic still hold a slim chance of qualifying for European competition, sitting just one point behind the European places with three games left. Valverde stressed that the team has struggled to recover from repeated setbacks throughout the season.
“This is the toughest season I’ve had here, without a doubt,” Valverde said during the pre-match press conference. “The results haven’t been as good as in previous years, but you have to be ready to face everything.”
With only three matches remaining, Valverde is set to leave the club at the end of the season. He is fully focused on securing a third consecutive European qualification for Athletic. “My mind is only on the next game and these three matches, which are far more important than many people think,” he added. “I feel that sometimes, both externally and internally, many things are taken for granted. I’ve been saying this since the start of the season, but it’s still hard for everyone to really grasp.”
Looking ahead to facing Espanyol, a team fighting relegation and winless in 18 league matches, Valverde acknowledged the challenge. “It’s a team I like. They have spirit, play well, and always try to push forward. They beat us at our place, but we didn’t deserve to lose that game. They have been close to winning many times, just a few millimeters away. That can happen to them, to us, to anyone.”
Valverde also reflected on his own experience coaching Espanyol, recalling a season where his team started strong but faded badly in the second half. “We had 36 points in the first half of the season and only 12 in the second. Everything went wrong despite the same squad. It just happens sometimes.”
For now, Valverde insists he is not thinking about his future beyond the final three matches, focusing all his energy on ending the season on a positive note.