Athletic Bilbao head coach Ernesto Valverde has praised the Ludogorets team ahead of the main Europa League preliminary match between the two sides. The meeting is tomorrow at 19:45 in Razgrad.
“We are playing away against a team that is used to playing in Europe, they need a win to win and it will not be easy,” Valverde warned in his pre-match press conference.
It's true they only have one point, but against Anderlecht and Slavia Prague, even though they lost, they played quite evenly until the end, added the red and white coach.
“Ludogorets likes to lead the game. They have very mobile and fast players in the front line, they can surprise you through counter attacks. Apart from that, they control the strategy with two very strong midfielders,” Valverde also analyzed.
The coach hopes his team can please the around 500 supporters who have traveled all the way to Razgrad to support the Spanish team.
“I hope we can make them happy and justify the great effort they have made to get here,” Valderde said.
Athletic goalkeeper Hulen Aguirresabala described Ludogorets as a very strong opponent.
“They haven't lost a game in their league, they have scored a lot of goals and conceded only one. We have to play a very serious game, with a lot of concentration. Our aim is to get as far as possible. If we can get through to the eighth “The bigger, the better, but the first thing is to qualify,” said Aguirrezabala.