Ernesto Valverde says that Athletic Bilbao will not be affected by playing their home fixture with Osasuna at Real Sociedad’s Anoeta.
The Basques are in their San Sebastian rivals’ stadium this Friday evening for Week 2, as work on their new San Mames stadium is still ongoing.
Whilst 328 buses will be transporting approximately 20,000 Athletic fans to and from the stadium, the inconvenience is not felt at a playing level, assures the team’s Coach.
“Our feeling is that we are playing at home. At Valladolid it seemed like we were playing at home,” reflected Valverde to reporters this week.
“The displacement is no big deal. We wanted to train at Anoeta, because it is a pitch that is very fast and we have wanted to get used to it.
“Osasuna? They have a very definite style of play and are a team that play with their lines close together and with height, they are capable of stealing a result.
“It’s a derby, there is no clear favourite, for the emotional factor. Osasuna come into the game with the greater need after their loss last week. After something like that you are motivated.
“We are not too concerned about this, we want the three points as they are important. Starting well isn’t about just winning the first game, it is significant to look at the League with optimism, so we have to endorse what we did the other day.”
