Post by mckennanp on May 9, 2019 19:04:51 GMT
ATHLETIC BILBAO v Valencia
Niall McKenna will be without his key man Aritz Aduriz when they welcome fellow challengers Valencia next week.
Aduriz who only made the return on Wednesday when the Basques managed to clinch a 3-1 win over Perugia, will now be out of action for 5 weeks having suffered a 'damaged knee'.
In transfer news, managing the lions can be challenging in terms of signing good players for the first team because of their policy of signing only Basque players. However that changed this week with club announcing up to six signings - Ezequiel Garay, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Aleix Vidal, Denis Suarez and Asier Illarramendi, brought in to freshen up the squad. Also joining on loan from Bournemouth is Paco Alcacer for a period of two months to provided some much needed competition in the forward ranks.
Speaking to ESPN, the manager said, "I'm grateful for the backing the board has given in securing these players and for Glen Pine in making the deals seamless. I believe it's a really good mixture of experience, grit, flair and maybe some of them with a point to prove having played in non European leagues for the past few years. However I do need to be clear that in going forward, I will be looking to youth, phasing them in with the experience now in the squad. I believe that's where we did come up short at times - lack of game management. These players have been brought in with being able to perform, not only at the current level but in the divisions above."
McKenna will look to hand several of the signings home debuts.
Possible Starting XI
1. Irazioz
2. Vidal
3. Felipe Luis
4. San Jose
5. Lekue
6. Martinez
7. Williams
8. Illarramendi (C)
9. Cordoba
10.Suarez
11.Lavezzi
12.Remiro
13.Garay
14.Susaeta
15.Muniain
16.Garcia