Athletic Bilbao Coach Valverde Thrilled with Victory over AZ; Hails Nico as a Hidden Gem

Valverde commented after the match: "I believe it was an excellent game. The energy in the stadium was electric, with everyone thrilled to be playing a European game in Bilbao. The team showcased a great level of intensity and determination. Breaking through their defense was a tough task considering the respect we have for our opponents."

"Nico (Williams) is a treasure and an insurance for us. He is always persevering and is brave when facing the opposition, as well as always looking at goal. He is a very high level player because he has speed, definition and dribbling. We know what we have, but we give him normality because we have seen him for years and living normally is the best way for him to be comfortable."

He also explained: "The first twenty minutes of the first half were the best of the season, but the same intention we have to attack always betrays us and makes us rush. At half-time we talked about calming down a bit because we had already had some losses at the start and we wanted to get closer to the top zone."