FIRE AWAY
Athletic Bilbao boss compares Rangers ace to a BULLET as he pinpoints 2 more danger men and gives Inaki Williams update
He isn't taking anything for granted ahead of the clash
BILBAO boss Ernesto Valverde has billed Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny as a BULLET ahead of tomorrow night’s Euro crunch.
Cerny looks set to shrug off a knock to play in the Europa League quarter final decider.
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And Valverde admits the Czech winger’s speed makes him one to watch along with striker Cyriel Dessers.
The former Barca boss said: “Rangers have a good formation, players who play well in the space.
“Dessers is constantly running to the space, being a reference player, a beacon for his team. He’s a dangerous player.
“Their players from the outside are very well positioned, whether they're playing James Tavernier in defence or in the midfield.
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“Then they have Cerny, who's a bullet.
“He’s very precise when it comes to defining moments. He's a player that in the space can hurt you.
“It's also true that some games they've lost at home and they haven't won.
“But it happens to us, it happens to them, and it happens to a lot of teams.
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“They have a good counter-attack.
“And at the same time they’re a big team in their league that can dominate the games.
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“They're forced to dominate the game when they play in Scotland.
“So they have players to do it.
“In Glasgow, we were missing a bit of clarity, a bit of speed in the game.
“But we still had opportunities to score there.
“We did not do it and now there's another chance.
“I don't know, it's a different game. We have to start again and we'll see how the game plays out.”
Bilbao are aiming to reach the that’s being held in their stadium next month.
Valverde added: “We know when the final is, because it was announced a long time ago.
“We have a game which is the key to playing the semi-final, which has only happened twice in the history of Atletico.
“Let's see if we can play a third time.
“Rangers are a team that, not long ago, played a Europa League final three or four years ago, against Eintracht, if I remember correctly.
“And they lost on penalties.
“So we have to respect them, because they're a great team, because they've shown it in the competition, also in the first-leg, and they have a story to defend.
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Valverde has also confided frontman Inaki Williams is an injury doubt ahead of the second-leg.
He injured his thigh in the 3-1 weekend win over Rayo Vallecano.
And the Ghana ace is now facing a race against time to be fit to face Rangers.
Valverde added: “Inaki is doubtful. Let's see today's training.
“Let's see if he is able to participate or not. But of course, counting on the players being 100% is important. "
Bilbao striker Maroan Sannadi has shrugged off the pressure on the La Liga outfit to reach the final that’s being staged in their own San Mames on May 21.
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He said: “Well, I don’t feel any pressure and neither does the team because we are in San Mames.
“It’s true that we are playing here in front of our own crowd but there is no pressure and a lot to win.”
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