Valverde accepts Bilbao jeers

Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde accepted that the fans had a right to jeer his team from the pitch after losing 2-0 to Celta Vigo.

The Basques scraped through on away goals in their Last 16 Copa del Rey second-leg clash in front of 25,000 fans at San Mames, after drawing 4-4 on aggregate.

Fabian Orellana scored from the penalty spot on the hour mark following Xabier Etxeita’s own goal just after half-time, yet the visitors could not muster a third and bowed out of the competition.

Los Leones will now face Malaga in the quarter-finals, but Valverde had to endure the wrath of the crowd at the final whistle following a woeful display from his team.

“We can’t be happy because we lost and now our position in the League table has come under scrutiny,” admitted Valverde to reporters.

“It’s normal and necessary that the supporters jeer us when we lose 2-0 at home. It’s good that they are demanding.

“They have had infinite patience with us and we’ll recover from this and come out with all guns blazing,” he declared defiantly.

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