No point thinking about key injuries -...
Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde has refused to rule out the prospect of his depleted squad turning their Europa League semi-final around at Manchester United. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg at home, Bilbao will be without suspended defender Dani Vivian, as well as top scorer Oihan Sancet and injured forward duo Inaki and Nico Williams.
Nevertheless, Valverde insists he is making the trip to Old Trafford believing they can still make the final. “I am focusing on those players that are going to be doing a job for us tomorrow,” Valverde said. “There’s no point thinking about the ones who aren’t here. We know we’ve got some key injuries, but it’s about the ones who are on the field. “It’s not going to be easy. We know it’s tough because the result is pretty much against us. We also know how high quality our opponents are and their stadium, but this is football. Anything can happen. “That’s what we always hope for, and we’re hoping for the best like we always do.”
Inaki Williams and younger brother Nico, who have 11 goals apiece this term, have been ruled out with hamstring and groin issues respectively. Striker Sancet, who has 17 goals this season, missed last week’s first leg with a hamstring injury and has been unable to recover in time Valverde added: “If they could have been here, they would have been here because this is the most important game of the season. “Manchester United are a side that don’t let you off. If you make mistakes, they punish you. Football is what it is. “We’ve got to go for it. We want to eradicate mistakes, and then impose our style of play on the game like we always do, taking into account the opponent and the surroundings.