Muniain does not consider it a failure not to enter Europe for the fifth year in a row

Athletic’s European classification has been complicated. The rojiblanco team is seven points from sixth place after losing against Betis at the Benito Villamarín and drawing at San Mamés against Getafe. It would be the fifth consecutive season that the team would not play for the old continent if the goal was not achieved. “It is a reality that it would be the fifth year in a row. I don’t consider it a failure, but it would mean not meeting a goal that we always set ourselves at the beginning of the season. You also have to see the number of teams that are involved in the fight for Europe, high-level teams. We always fight to be able to enter those places”, he said today Iker Muniain in Lezama

“We do not have to take anything for granted or say that we are not going to get involved. It is difficult but the team can achieve it. We are in a good dynamic, why is the situation not going to be reversed and we are starting to win”, added the Athletic captain.

“We are convinced that we can get a European place”

Iker MuniainAthletic Captain

The team made merits to achieve it last Friday against Getafe. “We had many options to win. It wasn’t like that, even with one more we kept trying and it couldn’t be. They are points that escape. But that has already happened, we must focus on what is to come. It’s a nice challenge”, he stated.

What has the team lacked in the last two games? “Against Getafe we ​​had a lot of chances. It was a very complete game in all aspects. We had very clear chances but we couldn’t convert them. Against Betis we played a weaker game and we didn’t generate as much”.

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Athletic’s ’10’ anticipates that the dressing room is fine: “The feeling we had is that you do everything to win and in the end we missed the points in San Mamés, which we want to be a fortress. The message after the game is that if we continue on this path you have more options to win. We have to sharpen our aim as we have been doing in previous games. We have been increasing it. Hopefully in this final stretch of the season it continues like this”.

The one from Txantrea has been convinced of achieving a European place at the end of the season. “We are very optimistic in this final stretch, there are nine games left, 27 points, a significant amount remains at stake. It is also true that we have to cut seven points from sixth place and Villarreal is ahead”, he pointed out.

The team does not compete this weekend. Then Elche will arrive at San Mamés and on the next day it is time to visit Villarreal in a direct duel. The yellows have four more points. “We focus on Elche, in case of winning, which is what we logically want, things will be seen differently. We go with the maximum ambition. Experience tells me that in the last days of the League things always happen, some teams puncture and others get a lot of points. We will try to have a very positive dynamic, we are convinced that we can achieve it. That’s how we want to let people know. It is true that there is a points disadvantage, but we are going to try to reduce it”, said the Navarrese

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