Athletic still dreaming of reaching UEL final despite Old Trafford challenge, says Yeray

Yeray Alvarez assured that Athletic Club's players do not want to wake up from the dream of being in the Europa League final on the 21st at San Mames, but to “keep dreaming” about it despite the fact that they will play on Thursday at Old Trafford with the disadvantage of the 0-3 deficit from the first leg.

“The fans instilled in us the reaction. We have worked all week knowing that anything can happen in football. Who would have thought United in the first leg would be 0-3 at halftime? You don't know when your moment can come and we are prepared to take advantage of any circumstance. We still don't want to wake up from this dream, what we want is to keep dreaming about the final at San Mames,” said the center-back at the pre-match press conference at the same venue.

“It's my dream and that of my teammates, and that of those who are in Bilbao as well,” he added, remembering the Basque side who cannot play the match, the suspended Dani Vivian and the injured Nico and Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet.

Yeray again recalled the “great players who will not be here”, but encouraged the Athletic fans to continue to believe. “If you're feeling down because of these absences, it's because you have little confidence in Athletic's players. There are 25 of us in the squad and in the end there have been injuries. There are important players who are missing, but imagine the desire that a substitute can have to play in a Europa League semi-final at Old Trafford,” he reflected.