Sabin Merino warned against Athletic Bilbao taking their foot off the pedal when Partizan Belgrade visit San Mames in the Europa League.
Athletic are top of Group L, level on points with Partizan but they claimed a 2-0 win in Serbia when the sides met in October, and Merino insists the team have to be at their best in the return encounter.
“We played a good game in Belgrade but we can’t relax, we have to go all out from the first minute,” he insisted.
“We know a win would be good for qualification but there will still be two important games.”
Merino added regarding his development that all he has wanted to do is take the chance afforded to him after joining Los Leones’ first team.
“You have to seize your opportunity and that’s what I’ve tried to do,” he admitted.
“At the start of the season, coming from the Segunda B, you wonder if you can play in the Primera, and doing well helps your morale. Now I look better and more capable.”
