Luís Castro hails Athletic: “World champions”

Levante head coach Luís Castro saved special praise for Athletic Club ahead of Wednesday’s sixth-round LaLiga EA Sports meeting, postponed last September due to rain. At a pre-match press conference, he argued the visitors’ quality by pointing out they “have players who are world champions and started (the World Cup),” citing Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, and Nico Williams.

Castro also stressed Athletic are “one of the best sides in the league” and warned that if Levante are not at 100%, the opponent can hurt them “from every angle.” After Friday’s draw at Riazor against Deportivo de A Coruña, he noted one of their early-season issues is the “deep renewal” of the squad and admitted they lacked more bite in the final stretch.

Asked about Levante’s goal pattern, he said they need to “be good for the whole game.” He added that his goal in Valencia is to “help the club stabilize,” after this season’s reported €40m in sales which, as he explained, left them without funds for the first matches and registration.