Iñaki Williams struck a defiantly optimistic tone following Athletic Club’s 2-0 home loss to Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League opener, insisting his side’s performance belied the final scoreline and offered encouragement for the challenges ahead.
The Ghana striker, who led the Basque side onto the pitch for their first Champions League match in over a decade, acknowledged Arsenal’s quality while maintaining pride in his team’s display.
“The result doesn’t reflect the game; we played well,” Williams stated post-match. “Arsenal is one of the favourites in this competition; we fought and gave it our all.”
His comments highlighted the contrast between Athletic’s competitive performance and the clinical efficiency shown by the Premier League side, whose second-half substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard combined for both goals against the run of play.
Williams’ focus on the positives suggests Athletic will draw confidence from their ability to compete with one of Europe’s elite teams as they prepare for their next Group Stage match against Borussia Dortmund. The performance offered promising signs for their campaign despite the opening defeat.
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