Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde says he will not be underestimating Copa del Rey opponents Alcoyano on Tuesday night.
The Basques take on the Segunda B minnows at their 4,500-capacity El Collao stadium and Valverde has warned his players against any complacency in the first-leg tie.
“We’ve had all kinds of experiences before that make us cautious and we’ll have to be prepared mentally,” he told a Press conference.
“We must remind ourselves that we are in a Cup competition, one that excites us a lot, and we’ll have to play well to win against opponents who have sufficient technical resources to make things difficult for us.
“We are doing well in the League and want to continue that run in the Cup. This tie is typical in that we have a lot to lose and they have a lot to gain.
“These are the worst games of the season because they are much harder than a lot of people think.”
Valverde acknowledged, however, that he is ready to rest several regulars from his starting line-up.
“Some players will be rested but when you face these teams you know they will play above themselves with a great deal of enthusiasm.
“Therefore, we’ll give Alcoyano great respect because they’ve already knocked out some Segunda B sides and we’ll need to be careful,” he advised.
