Athletic get Rangers Europa League excuses in early as boss slams 'incomprehensible' decision
03/19/2025 06:00 AM
Athletic Bilbao might have their sights set on lifting the Europa League trophy in May but they've got the small task of overcoming Rangers to get there.
Jose Mourinho might not be giving Rangers a chance against the Spaniards, who are hosting this year's Europa League Final, but football is a funny old game.
Rangers have regularly punched above their weight at this level and the fourth-place La Liga side would do well to heed the warnings of OGC Nice, Fenerbahce and every other scalp the Ibrox club have taken in recent seasons.
That being said, Rangers' record v Spanish opposition is abysmal.
Rangers fans will catch their breath during the March internationals before preparing to welcome the Spaniards to Ibrox for the first leg on the 10th of April.
John Souttar will be a big miss for Rangers, the defender having picked up a third yellow card before Jack Butland's heroics against Fenerbahce.
But whilst there will be no excuses from within Ibrox, Spanish manager Ernesto Valverde appears to be getting his in early.
Athletic manager slams 'incomprehensible' pre-Rangers scheduling
If there is any football manager who knows the idiosyncrasies of Athletic Bilbao, it's 61-year-old coach Ernesto Valverde.
The Spaniard spent six years in Bilbao as a player and is in his third stint at the club as a manager.
Valverde is under pressure to guide Athletic Bilbao to this season's Europa League Final, especially given it will be hosted at the club's Estadio de San Mames.
After Athletic dumped AS Roma in the Round of 16, a tricky double header against Rangers awaits and the Spanish coach has taken aim at the country's FA ahead of the game.
Why? Because Valverde reckons the 'incomprehensible' scheduling of a clash with Villarreal late on the Sunday evening before they travel to Glasgow puts his team at a disadvantage.
Athletic are set to kick off against Villarreal at 8pm GMT (9pm in Spain) four day before facing Rangers.
"This scheduling hurts us," Valverde claims, as quoted by the Herald.
“We are playing Villarreal late on Sunday night away and that means they have taken away a day’s rest for us before the first leg with Rangers.
“It’s actually incomprehensible what they do because it’s beneficial for Spanish football for teams to progress through the rounds.
“I know Real Mardid have complained about this and it happens to us on a regular basis.”
Ernesto Valverde set to live out lifelong Rangers dream
Ernesto Valverde is also set to live out a lifelong dream after Athletic Bilbao drew Rangers in the Europa League.
The Spanish coach has history in this competition, having guided Espanyol to the UEFA Cup Final way back in 2007.
Sevilla, who have won the competition a record seven times, would go on to lift the UEFA Cup trophy following a penalty shoot-out with the match hosted at Hampden.
Speaking before the game, Valverde claims he always wanted to draw Rangers so that he could experience the ferocious atmosphere of a competitive game in Scotland.
"When I was a player and my team were involved in Europe, I always used to hope the UEFA draw would pair us with Rangers so I could experience playing a competitive match in Scotland," Valverde told the UEFA website back in 2007.
"I never had a competitive match in Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales, and it got to the extent that I simply decided to go to Scotland on a driving holiday instead!
"So our second chance at a UEFA Cup final, coming at Hampden, a mythical stadium, is an extra pleasure for me."
Rangers will welcome Athletic Bilbao to Ibrox for the first leg of the Europa League quarter final on April 10th with the return taking place in Spain a week later on the 17th.
