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| Fernando 'the Lion King' Llorente is expected to lead the Spanish attack this summer |
The second half of the season has seen one team in
particular rise to real prominence; Athletic Bilbao. Every Spanish expert
around the world knew all about the Basque outfit and the quality they
possessed. But, there run to the final of the Europa League caught the
attention of more than those in the shores of Spain.
There brand of free-flowing football, stemmed from
Argentinean manager Marcelo ‘Loco’ Bielsa, has captured the hearts of many
across Europe. From the moment they knocked Manchester United out of the Europa
League, footballs fans sat up and took notice of the La Liga side that had just
overcome the Premier League champions over two legs.
Suddenly, with the style of play led by Fernando Llorente
and Football Manager favourite Iker Muniain, Bilbao had become everyone’s
second team. It was these two, amongst a host of others including Oscar de
Marcos, Ander Herrera and Javi Martinez, that fired Los Leones to the final of the Europa League and Copa Del Rey.
The close affiliation with fans and the Basque roots of the
club saw them labelled the ‘people’s club’ by many and despite their loss to
Atletico Madrid in the final of the Europa League, and despite the love and
affection shown towards Barcelona, a number of football fans are hoping Bilbao
come out triumphant over the Catalan giants and pick up their first piece of
silverware since the La Liga and Copa Del Rey double they achieved back in
1984.
The Lion King
The spearhead of the ruthless Bilbao attack, Llorente has received
his fair share of plaudits for another successful season with the La Liga
giants. Appropriately nicknamed The Lion King due to his physical stature and
blonde mane, the Spanish international has enjoyed his most prolific season to
date, netting 29 times in 51 games in all competitions.
His success on the domestic stage has seen the 27-year-old
feature heavily with the national side in recent and following the news that
David Villa is to miss the upcoming European Championships as he still recovers
from a broken leg, Llorente is expected to get the nod ahead of Roberto Soldado
and Fernando Torres and lead the Spain attack in Ukraine and Poland next month.
However, it is these performances for club and country that
is sure to attract the interest of a number of Europe’s heavyweights. A superb
showing against United at the last 16 stage of the Europa League this season
saw the Red Devils heavily linked with a move for Llorente, while Liverpool and
Tottenham Hotspur have been mooted as possible suitors in the past.
The fact of the matter is, Llorente has become hot property
in recent years across the continent and this summer will see his name strongly
linked with a move away from Bilbao. It is absolutely pivotal for the future of
the club that Athletic that they hold on to their talisman in order to build on
the success they have attained this year alone.
His close ties with the club, having been born a little over
120km from Bilbao, could well see him stay with the club despite speculation
suggesting otherwise. As witnessed during the club’s Europa League semi-final
win over Sporting, where Llorente was crying in the corner of the pitch following
the 3-1 win at San Mamés in the second leg over the Portuguese side, the
powerful striker is evidently in love with the club, having claimed reaching
the final of the competition to be a bigger honour than winning the World Cup
in 2010.
Yet, it won’t stop the rumours linking him with a move away
from the club, especially with him having admitted in the most recent issue of
FourFourTwo that he would be interested in a move to the Premier League in the
future. Admissions like that will see interest in him increase tenfold,
interest that Athletic will have to work hard to stamp out and convince Llorente
that his future lies in within the confides of Bilbao.
Keeping Bielsa
The mad man from Argentina, having arrived at the beginning
of the season following a four-year stint as Chile manager, Bielsa has
completely changed the fortunes of the club on the pitch. Despite the club
finishing a lowly 10th in La Liga, a chance to return to the Europa
League is a possibility next season should they overcome Barcelona in the Copa
Del Rey final on Friday.
‘Loco’ has brought in his South American influence to the
club, with Athletic and the fans reaping the rewards with the brilliant brand
of football that has seen them dubbed one of the most exciting teams in Europe
at the moment. Yet, much like Llorente and his performances on the pitch,
Bielsa’s coaching capabilities having gone unnoticed.
Soon-to-be-former Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola praised
Bielsa to high heaven earlier this season, lauding him as his potential
replacement at the Camp Nou, a sentiment echoed by Lionel Messi. The Blaugrana eventually replaced Guardiola
with his assistant Tito Vilanova for the next season, but the worry is there
for Athletic that big club’s will come sniffing around the 56-year-old.
Club president Josu Urrutia will surely work hard to keep
Bielsa at San Mamés, along with Llorente. The Argentine is believed to be on
the shortlist to take over at Chelsea and with the news today emerging from
chief executive Ron Gourlay that an appointment will be made announced over the
coming weeks, Bielsa is likely to be one that has been linked with a move to
Stamford Bridge before the July deadline set by the Blues. It is, like holding
onto Llorente, pivotal the club keep hold of the Argentine manager in order to
continue progressing on the both the domestic and European front.
One player sure to
leave
Versatile defence minded midfielder Javi Martinez is one
that will be leaving Athletic this summer. The Spanish international, who has
been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, is reported to be
joining Bayern Munich when the transfer window reopens at the beginning of
June. The news will come as a bitter blow to the club, with the 23-year-old
often utilised as a centre-back under Bielsa.
Equally comfortable in the middle of the park, Martinez,
himself a World Cup winner in 2010, was always expected to leave the club this
summer, but will still be a big blow to the Basque side. It will be important
for the club to replace him quickly and hold onto the aforementioned duo in
order to increase their chances of success for the future.
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