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Inaki Williams laments Athletic Bilbao's Copa del Rey semi-final exit

Inaki Williams  Black Stars.png Inaki Williams is a Ghanaian forward

Fri, 6 Mar 2026 Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Ghana international Inaki Williams has reflected on Athletic Bilbao’s elimination from the Copa del Rey, admitting the atmosphere in the dressing room felt like a funeral following their semi-final defeat to fierce Basque rivals Real Sociedad.

The Black Stars forward started and played the full match in the return leg of the Basque derby, as Athletic Bilbao succumbed to a narrow defeat at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta on Wednesday night.

Prior to the decisive encounter, Williams’ outfit was already trailing after losing the first leg at San Mamés Stadium last week. The result saw Real Sociedad secure a 2-0 aggregate victory to progress to the final of the competition.

Speaking after the match, Williams could not hide his disappointment, expressing the emotional toll the defeat had taken on the squad.

“The dressing room feels like a funeral; we are hurting. It hurts because they are our eternal rivals and because we were not at our usual level.”

Williams, who is the captain of Athletic Bilbao, admitted the team’s performance fell short of expectations and acknowledged the pain of missing out on a place in the final.

Williams also described the current campaign as a difficult one for the club, citing inconsistent performances that have made the season more challenging than anticipated.

“The season is proving how difficult it is for us, and our fans deserved a little joy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will face Atletico Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey, scheduled for April 18, 2026.

Source: ghanasoccernet.com