Athletic Bilbao captain and Ghana international Inaki Williams has offered a candid assessment of his side’s turbulent season, conceding that the club has fallen short of expectations both domestically and on the European stage.
The San Mamés-based outfit has struggled to replicate the momentum of last season, when Ernesto Valverde masterminded a long-awaited return to European football. That sense of progress has been harder to sustain this time around, with inconsistent performances stalling Bilbao’s ambitions.
After 21 matches in La Liga, Athletic find themselves marooned in mid-table, sitting 12th with 24 points, a position that reflects a campaign marked by frustration rather than fluency.
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Europe has provided little relief. In the Champions League group phase, Bilbao’s journey has been equally uneven, managing just two wins, two draws and three defeats from seven outings. Those results have left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, with the final round of group fixtures now decisive in the race for a playoff berth.
Despite the mounting pressure, Williams has struck a defiant tone, insisting the squad remains united and driven.
“Things aren’t turning out the way we want them to. We know it, and we feel it. But this group remains standing,” he wrote on X. “There’s still a long way to go; we’re alive and with the same ambition as always.”
No están saliendo las cosas como queremos.
Lo sabemos y lo sentimos.
Pero este grupo sigue de pie.
Queda mucho camino, estamos vivos y con la misma ambición de siempre.
Con vuestro apoyo, vamos a seguir luchando cada día, JUNTOS, hasta el final.El @AthleticClub NUNCA se rinde.… pic.twitter.com/3E6dQeSjmn
— IÑAKI WILLIAMS ARTHUER (@Williaaams45) January 26, 2026
The Bilbao skipper also leaned heavily on the club’s bond with its supporters, calling for collective resilience during the run-in.
“With your support, we’re going to keep fighting every day, together, until the end. The Athletic Club never gives up. This team and this fan base will never lower their arms. We keep going!” he added.
On a personal level, the 31-year-old forward has endured a stop-start season. Persistent injury issues have limited his rhythm and impact, resulting in a modest return of one goal from 19 appearances across all competitions.
As the season reaches a critical juncture, Athletic Bilbao now face the challenge of turning belief into results, with their captain leading the call to fight on until the very end.
