Valverde’s Athletic Club out for revenge against Barcelona – ‘Of course, we would like to…’ | OneFootball

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Athletic Club’s match against FC Barcelona, manager Ernesto Valverde stated that his team will be gunning for revenge against the champions.

The Blaugrana take on the Basque club on Saturday night at San Mames, having already beaten them twice this season.

Indeed, Barça thrashed Athletic Club 4-0 in the reverse fixture in La Liga back in November 2025.

Later on, the two teams clashed again in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in January, with Hansi Flick’s men prevailing 5-0.

“Of course, we would like to, we all want revenge against Barça. They don’t usually show any mercy to their opponents,” admitted Valverde, as quoted by SPORT.

“If they beat you by a large margin, it’s for a reason. They are the current champions, leaders and favourites to win the league again.”

Valverde highlighted how difficult it is to face Barcelona because of their playing style, saying:

“What we like least is that Barça’s style dictates how you have to play. Their defensive line is very high, which gives you some opportunities, but their attack is very hard to stop.”

Revenge on Valverde’s mind. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Even when defending well, he admitted teams can still struggle against them.

“You have to be alert to everything. Even if you defend well, you can still have difficulties. They give you chances, but it’s not easy to take advantage of them,” he added.

Barcelona are currently balancing several competitions, including the Champions League, which raised the question of whether this might be a favourable moment to face them.

“We’ll know after the match. They have more objectives besides the league. They lost two players through injuries, in addition to Frenkie de Jong. The calendar is tight and demanding,” Valverde stated.

When asked to name a key player from the Barça squad, the Athletic Club manager replied:

“Key players? Raphinha, Pedri, Lamine Yamal are fundamental. Also Fermin Lopez and Pau Cubarsi. There are many to choose from. Lamine is in extraordinary form. I couldn’t pick just one.”

Valverde, however, expressed confidence that Athletic Club can respond strongly despite recent setbacks, including a semifinal exit from the Copa del Rey.

“Real Madrid came here and we had a difficult match. We’ve had tough games like against Arsenal or Atletico Madrid, and even when we lost they gave us emotional boosts,” he stated.