Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde is facing uncertainty over key players Inaki Williams and Yuri Berchiche ahead of Thursday's crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Rangers.
Williams is a doubt after limping off in Sunday’s win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, while Berchiche continues his recovery from a muscle issue.
Williams, who has been a key figure for Athletic this season with 10 goals and nine assists, was forced off during stoppage time.
His availability for Thursday’s match is in question, and Valverde will assess his fitness after training on Wednesday evening.
"Well, Inaki is in doubt, we will see in today’s training. He didn’t train yesterday," the experienced coach confirmed.
"Yuri missed training too. We will see how he is and if he can take part [in training tonight], but I will only use players who are 100 per cent for such a match."
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With Athletic chasing their first-ever European semi-final and the final set for their iconic San Mames Stadium, Valverde is keen to ensure his side doesn’t underestimate Rangers — who are seeking a return to the last four just three years after reaching the final in Seville.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the last eight fixture in Bilbao, he said: “Rangers are a team that played a final [Europa League] against Eintracht no time ago, and only lost on penalties. So we have to respect them, because they're a great team, because they've shown that in the competition, also in the first leg, and they have a story to defend.
“In these games, we always try to turn all this [pressure] into positive energy for us. Obviously, there's pressure in the game, but the pressure is that you want to be there, and that has to be there to push us.”
Nothing could separate the teams at Ibrox last week as they played out a goalless stalemate, despite Rangers competing with 10-men for over 80 minutes after Robin Propper was sent off.
“It’s a decisive, unique game,” he said. “We’ve already played those games here this year, and we’d like to play our game based on their game plan.
“I’d love for them to say that since we’ve done well, we’re going to play with ten men! They have a good counterattack and are a top team in their league. In Scotland, they’re required to dominate.
“When you suffer a sending off, they’ll sit back and wait for their chances — and they did well. It will be a different game, an open one, with chances for both sides.”
