Ernesto Valverde 'heats up' the mood ahead of the match against FC Barcelona

The match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club on Saturday 24 August is set to be a high-voltage duel. Even more so after the latest statements from Ernesto Valverde, who in the press conference prior to the match spoke about his team's visit to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, a ground he knows very well since he coached Espanyol in many matches on its benches.

"I have played many games in Montjuïc and I assure you that it is not the hottest atmosphere in the world. There will be many tourists, people will cheer on their team, there is a lot of distance from the pitch. I don't expect anything special," commented the 'Txingurri', making it clear that he does not expect a tense atmosphere in the clash between the two clubs, whose relationship has been 'touched' after the Catalans' interest in Nico Williams this summer.

There has been much speculation in recent days about the reception of the Barcelona fans to the Athletic Club, and specifically, to the Euro 2024 champion. The two institutions were involved in a particular duel in the offices for the winger, whose signing was a priority for the Blaugrana entity during most of the transfer market. However, the Bilbao team managed to convince him and the footballer will continue to wear the red and white shirt, which he will wear in Montjuïc in front of a crowd that dreamed of seeing him as a Barça player at this time of August.

The noise around Nico

Valverde spoke about this, assuring that he does not consider that the rumours in which the youngest of the Williams was involved will affect him in the face of this Saturday's match. "I don't think it will affect him, he looks very good. I don't see any problem. There may have been noise all this time, but we have to separate what is important. It is the noise that accompanies football, for newspapers and talk shows. We see him happy, well," he said.

Finally, the Extremadura native was 'sceptical' about Hansi Flick's new Barça, assuring that "for the moment we haven't seen too much. The changes are not yet noticeable although I understand that the coach wants to implement his idea. There are young players who have entered the centre of the field and I understand that as the games go by we will see something clearer. They maintain the line up, pressing high."