Athletic Club captain Iñaki Williams expressed pride in his team’s performance despite a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League opener on Tuesday night.
The Ghana international, who led the Basque side in their long-awaited return to Europe’s elite competition, believed the final score did not reflect the balance of play at San Mamés.
“The result doesn’t reflect the game; we played well. Arsenal is one of the favourites in this competition; we fought and gave it our all,” Williams stated in a post-match interview.
The Black Stars striker acknowledged the quality of the Premier League opponents but emphasized the effort and intensity his team displayed throughout the match. Despite a promising performance that saw Athletic create several opportunities, second-half goals from Arsenal substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard ultimately decided the contest.
Williams and his teammates now shift their focus back to La Liga, where they will face Valencia on Saturday, September 20.
The Athletic captain’s comments suggest the team will take confidence from their performance against one of Europe’s strongest sides as they continue their campaign both domestically and in Europe.
The defeat leaves Athletic Club with work to do in Group Stage, with their next Champions League fixture scheduled against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on October 1.
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