Marcelo Bielsa has reflected that Fernando Llorente’s future departure is both ‘joyous and sad’, whilst declaring that knowing his destination changes nothing.
The striker has been known as on his way out of Athletic Bilbao since the start of the season, when the club confirmed that he had refused to sign an extension to his deal expiring in June 2013.
It has now been confirmed this week that he will join Juventus in the summer, but his current Coach does not see reason for this to change expectations for the present.
“It gives us both joy and sadness that he will stop with this team, something we have known since August,” reflected Bielsa at his Press conference.
“Knowing that he was leaving, the effects have been in evidence. Now knowing where he is going does not change anything. The name of the club that he goes to is linked with him, not us.
“I do not believe he will lose his performance level since this confirmation.”
Bielsa was talking ahead of Athletic’s weekend game at home to Atletico Madrid, and took time to make clear that they are not a team he is motivated to beat any more than any other side.
“They are not a team we ‘must’ beat, because several others sides have also not won against them and our problems this year have not stemmed from losing the Europa League Final to them last year.
“We are struggling for reasons that are nothing to do with the opposition.
“Despite recognising that it is ourselves rather than our opponent that we must overcome, I recognise what it means to face a team that has shown beyond the big two that they are best team in Spain, without doubt, with aspirations to go further, as they are showing.
“The intensity that they play with is a particular feature of Simeone’s as a Coach.
“Right now we need to win again and of course it is not the same to play against Atletico as it is other sides.
“We do not ignore the power of our opponent, whilst it increases the challenge posed to us to reverse our succession of untoward results.”
