Iraizoz insists Bilbao must recover

10 May 2012 03:55

Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz urged his team-mates to avoid dwelling on their Europa League final loss to Atletico Madrid.

The Basque club had high hopes of ending their wait for a first continental title after overcoming Manchester United and Schalke on their way to the decider in Bucharest, but they were outgunned by their La Liga rivals on Wednesday, succumbing to two first-half goals from Radamel Falcao and a third from Diego late on.

Iraizoz was unable to hide his own disappointment at the full-time whistle but he insisted afterwards that the players simply have to put the game behind them if they are to have any chance of upsetting Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final at the Vicente Calderon on May 25.

"In 15 days we have another final," Iraizoz told reporters.

"We have made it to two finals, which is something few teams do, and although tonight it is difficult, we now have to grit our teeth and, with the support of our fans, hopefully re-emerge in the same way Athletic have done many times before.

"We must go on. We must believe in the work that is being done and be proud of the way in which we got here.

"What we have to do now is to stick together; to be united. We know that we have another chance and we must cling to that now."

Bilbao must first complete their league campaign with a trip to Levante on Sunday.