Valverde opens up on Barcelona–Athletic tension and Nico Williams drama – ‘These things happen regularly’ | OneFootball

Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde addressed the media ahead of his team’s visit to the newly reopened Spotify Camp Nou, and as expected, much of the conversation centred around Nico Williams. 

The young winger has been at the heart of tension between the two clubs over the past two summers, with Barcelona pushing hard to sign him before he ultimately chose to extend his contract with Athletic. 

His decision left Barcelona frustrated while straining relations between the sporting departments of both institutions.

Despite this backdrop, Valverde remained calm and dismissed the idea that hostility exists between the clubs.

“I don’t feel that way. It’s true that sometimes, due to circumstances, there can be a certain rivalry between clubs and teams, and I suppose the situation with Nico made us uncomfortable, both them and us. 

“These things happen regularly in the world of football. It’s more about what is said or talked about than reality. 

“We are two teams that compete hard and well, and that’s the only thing I have to focus on,” he said before making the trip to Camp Nou.

Nico has already been jeered

Nico was already jeered by the Montjuïc crowd last season, when Barcelona were forced to play at the Lluis Companys Stadium due to renovations at their home ground. 

Valverde was asked if he expected a similar reception now that the match will return to Camp Nou. The manager made it clear where his own priorities lie, stating,

“I don’t know how Camp Nou will receive him. The question is how we receive him, and we always welcome him with open arms.”

The winger has been named in the travelling squad, having recovered from the lingering groin problem. Valverde shared a brief update on Nico’s condition, noting,

Nico Williams will feature against Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“He played the other day. We’ll see, he’s training regularly, skipping some aspects of training. 

“We want him to be 100% because these upcoming matches are very important,” he added.

Facing Barcelona at Camp Nou

Having coached Barcelona previously and now leading Athletic, he is one of the few who understand both environments better than most.

The fixture’s venue itself became a topic only after Barcelona received approval earlier in the week to return to their stadium, albeit with limited capacity. 

Many assumed the late confirmation would complicate Athletic’s preparation, but Valverde brushed aside any such concerns.

“No, not at all. It’s not something that affects us; what happens on the pitch is what affects us. 

“Ultimately, the venue shouldn’t matter to us. We’ve also played for a year without a grandstand. I don’t dwell on those things,” he acknowledged.

One notable detail is that no Athletic supporters will be present at Camp Nou due to the absence of a designated away section, along with safety concerns related to mixed fan movement in the corridors. 

Valverde accepted the situation pragmatically, saying, “I don’t know what the circumstances are at the stadium. We will see tomorrow. 

“It’s a remodelled field. We would have liked our fans to come, we’ll try to do the same, win without their help.”

Notably, though, there are rumours that some Athletic supporters have somehow found a way to see the match at the venue.

Source: Mundo Deportivo