Athletic turn to league route back to Europe after Copa exit | OneFootball

Iñaki Williams, Athletic’s captain, cut a dejected figure after the Copa del Rey exit at Anoeta, but said the focus now turns to La Liga and the push to return to Europe.

According to AS, he accepted it was hard for everyone, insisted the season is not over and set a return to Europe as the dressing room’s immediate challenge for players and supporters alike.

Barcelona visit San Mamés on Saturday as leaders. Williams noted their good form and that it will be complicated, but underlined there is no time for lamentations and that the team must lift their heads and move on.

Athletic are now fixed on the league, with the Conference League appearing the most reachable target given their 35 points in a compressed mid-table. With no Champions League involvement, their weeks open up and Ernesto Valverde will recover Sannadi, Egiluz, Yeray, Prados and the awaited Nico Williams for the run-in.

The Cup exit carries collateral damage, ruling them out of the Supercopa, a tournament they contested in the last two editions. Atlético and Real now have guaranteed places as Copa finalists.

Next season’s Copa path also becomes tougher, with Athletic entering in the first round without seeding to go straight to the last 32 and without guaranteed ties against lower-division opponents.

Source: AS