Athletic Bilbao midfielder Mikel Rico has confessed that he dreams of winning a trophy with the Basque club.
The 29-year-old [pictured, left], born in Basauri just south of Bilbao, was signed by Los Leones from Granada in August 2013 for a reported €2.8m and says he hopes his wish might come true this season.
“All of us who play for Athletic are Athletic fans and we’ve loved this club since we were children, so we’d love to win a trophy this year.”
“I know it’s going to be very difficult but it is in all our minds. It’s a tough challenge but we’ve got to think we can do it,” he told reporters.
“Since I arrived it has been more than I imagined. The dressing room is incredible and it is a special club, unique.”
Athletic have reached the group stages of the Champions League after beating Napoli in the final qualifying round, where they will compete with Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and BATE Borisov. Rico acknowledges it will not be an easy task for Ernesto Valverde’s men.
“It’s obvious we have a good chance of winning the group but it would be wrong to think we will qualify easily. Shakhtar are a dangerous team that are in the Champions League every season and Porto are one of the top sides who always win the Portuguese league, apart from last year. Then there is a hard game [against BATE} at a difficult ground.
“Nobody gives you anything. This is the Champions League and it’s going to be very difficult to go through.”
