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·29 January 2026

🎥Valverde, thoughts after a tough exit

Article image:🎥Valverde, thoughts after a tough exit

The Athletic coach wanted to turn the page on the Champions League elimination and focused his energy on the derby against Real Sociedad.

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Losing hurts, but it’s important not to lose sight of what truly matters for an Athletic team that came close to staying alive in the competition. 

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Ernesto Valverde stated that Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad is his real Champions League, and what always matters at Athletic is La Liga.

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Athletic Bilbao
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Real Sociedad

He would have preferred a different ending for a Champions League run that was a beautiful dream, but it certainly wasn’t easy, with significant physical wear and long-term injured players.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 Ion Alcoba Beitia - 2026 Getty Images

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