Athletic Bilbao are aiming simply to end the year well, according to fullback Andoni Iraola.
Los Leones have had a torrid campaign so far, struggling in La Liga and knocked out of both the Europa League and Copa del Rey early, but recovered from the Copa defeat against Eibar with a 1-0 win at Real Mallorca on Saturday.
“Hopefully we can finish the year well, that’s what we all want,” said the 30-year-old in a media briefing this morning. “The team was good during this last victory, we needed it after the Cup match. Now we’ll see if we can do equally well in another tough game [against Real Zaragoza on Saturday].”
Iraola admitted Saturday’s win had been hard fought.
“It was a very open game. Perhaps especially in the first half we suffered more than we’d like, but you also have to know how to win these games. We’d love to win two or three nil every week but it’s difficult in the Primera Division.”
The Spanish international was happy to have returned to the starting XI and played a part in the goal in Mallorca.
“I’m happy because I did not think at any time of the injury, I felt good, and by the looks of it it will give me no trouble.
“We have good strikers to finish off assists, and Aritz Aduriz is on a sensational run.”
