Raul Garcia has praised Athletic Bilbao teammates Aritz Aduriz and Benat Extebarria, and considered the potential of Inaki Williams.
Garcia will line up for Los Leones against former team Atletico Madrid this weekend and in a lengthy interview with AS, discussed Los Colchoneros, before moving on to talk his current colleagues.
“Aduriz’s form is very good. He takes care to be so good. We all want to reach the level he’s at, when instead of physically getting worse, we get better. I hope he continues this way for a long time. He’s an example,” Garcia said of the veteran.
“I had the good luck to start my career early. I like to take care of myself and I need to train. When I rest, I’m missing something. The withdrawal affects my body and my ambition.
“I want to compete and I want to win. The day I lose that, I lose a lot. After the match though, I’m a very calm person.”
Garcia is rivalled for a place in the Athletic midfield by Benat, and when asked about the former Real Betis man, was glowing in his appreciation.
“He’s one player from outside and another inside. It’s not easy to adapt to different things. Benat though is exceptional. He’s managed to build a calm base, a cool head for when he isn’t playing,” he said, then moving on to Williams.
“I talk to him a lot, young people should be calm. The hard thing is to have the right condition, and he has that already.
“You have to mature to the level of the match and what’s required, and polish things to become a great player.”
Garcia is contributing to Athletic’s Europa League campaign having already won the trophy twice, once when Atletico beat his current club.
“We’re prepared. Athletic have already proven they can do important things. They beat Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana,” he pointed out.
“The Europa League is long and complicated. It seems like it’s easy to win trophies, but it’s not. Hopefully we can get to the final and win it.
“Osasuna to the Primera, Atletico win the title and Athletic the Europa League? I’d like to see that. But I want Athletic to fight for all the competitions.”
