Athletic Bilbao midfielder Mikel Vesga: We want allow season to tail off | OneFootball

Athletic Bilbao midfielder Mikel Vesga says the players are determined to finish the season with a flourish.

Athletic are now just one point behind Villarreal in seventh, and a spot in next season's Conference League, while they are five points off Real Sociedad in sixth, the final Europa League place.

“We want to get as many points as possible in the games we have left," Vesga said at a press conference in Lezama on Wednesday.

“The win against Atlético Madrid was important and now we have to focus on Saturday's match. We've bounced back from the defeat against Celta and now the team is fully motivated and desperate to qualify for Europe. We're very excited and we're going to give our all for it."

Valencia visit Bilbao for the second time this season, having also played at The Cathedral in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Vesga is expecting a similar match on Saturday, warning Los Che are an “uncomfortable opponent".

He said: “We've gotten over the Copa now. But nonetheless, we know it's going to be a really difficult match. We have to be ready for whatever comes our way and be patient if we want to get another three points at San Mamés.

“They're an uncomfortable opponent, it's difficult to get the better of them. However, at this stage of the season, with the confidence we have in ourselves and the support of our fans, I'm sure we can get a positive result."