Football Season Guide

Last season’s eighth place finish was respectable, but means it’s now five seasons in a row without European qualification for the Bilbao club, which isn’t acceptable for their fanbase. That saw changes come in the summer, as a new president was elected and as Ernesto Valverde was brought back as coach to replace Marcelino. The coaching change is an important one, as Valverde is very well-respected in Bilbao after coaching the team twice before and doing very well with them. His arrival has brought optimism. However, the playing squad will remain largely the same, as Athletic Club haven’t been able to bring in or move on many players. They’re well used to that, though, as their Basque-only policy always limits their options in the market. So, it’ll be the same squad and a better coach going into this new season, which is a positive. Valverde will look to keep the defence as strong as it was last term, when they conceded just 36 goals in 38 games, which was the third-best record in the division. But, Athletic Club must be more clinical if they’re to challenge for European qualification. They created a lot of chances last season, but took so few of them that their wastefulness was almost comical at times. Inaki Williams in particular must be more decisive in the final third.