Athletic Bilbao is bracing for significant challenges as they prepare for their upcoming Europa League matches against AS Roma and impending adjustments to their squad. With the announcement of captain Óscar De Marcos' retirement at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season, attention shifts to how this will affect the team as they navigate the international stage.
Ernesto Valverde, the head coach of Athletic Bilbao, recently held a press conference, emphasizing the formidable nature of their upcoming opponent. "Roma are a tough and complicated opponent, we already know them from the group stage," Valverde remarked, displaying his awareness of the Italian club's capabilities. His acknowledgment of Roma's recent successes, including reaching semi-finals and finals of European competitions, speaks volumes about the respect he holds for them. He elaborated on their competitive edge, noting, "They won the Conference League and lost the Europa League to Sevilla on penalties." Such insights categorize Roma as one of the formidable competitors Bilbao will face.
On the other side, Roma is also gearing up for the decisive end to their season, trying to maintain performance across two major competitions—the league and the Europa League. Under the guidance of coach Claudio Ranieri, strategic management of player resources has become imperative. Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate Ranieri’s tactical decision to rotate players, utilizing younger and less experienced players during Serie A matches to conserve energy for their European campaign against Athletic Bilbao.
Meanwhile, the meeting of these two teams is bound to be highly competitive, as both aim for progression, especially with Roma eyeing qualification for the Champions League through their league performance. Ranieri's plan relies on starting key players for the Europa League fixtures and granting opportunities to new signings such as Gourna-Douath, Salah-Eddine, and Nelsson, who will debut against Monza, bolstering their offensive line.
Back home, the emotional announcement from Óscar De Marcos has turned heads. The captain, whose career has been deeply intertwined with Valverde's tenure at the club, will leave behind substantial memories and records, prompting discussions about who would step up to fill his shoes. Valverde spoke with admiration of De Marcos, praising him as having "the highest possible rating, mainly due to his dedication, the successes he has achieved, the way he has done it, and who he is as a person," signaling the integral role De Marcos has played over his career. The coach, maintaining his trademark affability, refrained from discussing whether he tried to persuade De Marcos to stay, hinting at the candid discussions they have had concerning the future of both player and team.
The sentiment surrounding De Marcos’ retirement extends to the club's leadership, with Valverde noting the transparent relationship they share, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what is best for the player and the team at this juncture. "We always talk about what is best for him and what is best for the team when delivering news like this at a certain moment," said Valverde cleverly underlining the complexity of such transitions.
With the Europa League fixtures looming and the shadow of De Marcos' departure hanging over the team, Athletic Bilbao faces the challenge of not only performing well against Roma but also ensuring steady morale and team cohesion through this time of transition. How they respond on the pitch may well define their character and fortitude as they push through the remaining obstacles of their season.