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Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente: We will take risks to try to beat Real Madrid
The Basque side travels to the Spanish capital to take on Jose Mourinho's men on Sunday, and know that the home crowd will be baying for blood after their midweek Clasico defeat
Jan 21, 2012 7:16:00 AM
By Gareth McKnight
Javi Martinez, Iker Muniain y Fernando Llorente - Athletic Bilbao
Fernando Llorente has admitted that Athletic Bilbao will have to take risks if it is to beat Real Madrid on Sunday, despite the team going into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu full of confidence.
The Basque side goes to the Spanish capital unbeaten in its last seven games in all competitions, but the Spain international knows that his men will be in for a difficult 90 minutes.
"It's a very good game to play in, one of the best games of the year," he told AS. "We really want to show what we can do against Madrid. We come off the back of some very good results, with many games without conceding a goal.
"The team is working very well in every way but we know that in this game we need to do much more than what we are doing if we want to get something. We are ready and we will fight to stop them.
"If you want to win at Madrid you have to take risks and we will do. They are a very awkward opponent, very fast, with players who can take advantage of small errors," he continued.
Llorente also stated that his team will aim to continue coach Marcelo Bielsa's ethos of keeping the ball, which will be important if the visitors are to stand a chance.
"The more we have the ball, the more we will avoid suffering through long periods of Madrid possession; this is best for us," he concluded. "It will not be easy because Madrid put opponents under a lot of pressure and so far only Barcelona can match Madrid."
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The Basque side goes to the Spanish capital unbeaten in its last seven games in all competitions, but the Spain international knows that his men will be in for a difficult 90 minutes.
"It's a very good game to play in, one of the best games of the year," he told AS. "We really want to show what we can do against Madrid. We come off the back of some very good results, with many games without conceding a goal.
"The team is working very well in every way but we know that in this game we need to do much more than what we are doing if we want to get something. We are ready and we will fight to stop them.
"If you want to win at Madrid you have to take risks and we will do. They are a very awkward opponent, very fast, with players who can take advantage of small errors," he continued.
Llorente also stated that his team will aim to continue coach Marcelo Bielsa's ethos of keeping the ball, which will be important if the visitors are to stand a chance.
"The more we have the ball, the more we will avoid suffering through long periods of Madrid possession; this is best for us," he concluded. "It will not be easy because Madrid put opponents under a lot of pressure and so far only Barcelona can match Madrid."
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