Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has acknowledged that Barcelona’s inability to field midfielder Dani Olmo in Wednesday’s Spanish Super Cup semifinal gives his team an advantage.
Barcelona faces a registration crisis with Dani Olmo and striker Pau Victor, leaving both players unavailable for selection despite traveling to Saudi Arabia for the match.
Financially struggling Barca is appealing to Spain’s top sports court to license the players after previous attempts were denied.
Dani Olmo is an extraordinary player, and if he can’t play tomorrow, for us, well, what can I say?” said Valverde during a press conference.
I’m sorry for his situation because he brings prestige to the competition, but if he doesn’t play against us, so much the better.
Valverde, a former Barcelona coach, reflected on his history at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, where he last led Barca in a semifinal loss to Atletico Madrid in 2020. I know I played my last Barca match as coach here, in the same stadium,” he said. “It happened, but I am in another place now, very happy, and tomorrow is a different game.”
The winner of the match will face either Real Madrid or Real Mallorca, who meet in the second semifinal on Thursday.