Marcelino has already claimed one scalp this week, by beating Real Madrid in the semi-finals. “The players are in top shape, they are like cannons,” said Athletic boss Marcelino.
Athletic Club players are like cannons
Marcelino is thrilled by the opportunity to take silverware back to Bilbao as Athletic Club face Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday. Marcelino has already claimed one scalp this week, by beating Real Madrid in the semi-finals. “The players are in top shape, they are like cannons,” said Athletic boss Marcelino. “They will give everything to win. There is no need to pay attention to the motivation for this game. They have a chance to become champions and do it by beating Real Madrid and Barcelona. I was going to swear. It will be something. “Athletics’s last trophy came with a Supercopa victory over Barcelona in 2015 when Ernesto Valverde’s side prevailed over two legs. “Barcelona are used to winning many trophies in a season and Athletic are less likely to win trophies,” said the Athletic coach.
“Those chances that we have, we must do our best to take them. That is what these players are going to do – give their all for this trophy. The Supercopa is Athletics’s last trophy, and we will try our best to win it again.” Lionel Messi returned to Barcelona training on Saturday, but there are doubts about playing on Sunday. “We have to play our way, but also keeping in mind how our opponent plays, “said Marcelino. “We will not change the main aspects of our game, and we will not be distracted from our idea of whether Leo is playing or not. His presence on the field limits our chances of winning, though. We will assume that he will play, that he will in the best possible shape and that we’ll have to stop him.”