Ernesto Valverde plays down Copa del Rey importance

Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde has insisted that his team's season will not be defined by their Copa del Rey challenge.

The Basque outfit travel to Espanyol for the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, with the two teams currently level at 1-1 from the first leg.

Valverde has said that "it would be great to play in the Copa del Rey final", but has admitted that the remainder of the league season is more important.

"This is one more opportunity for us and I don't have the sensation it will be our last," Valverde is quoted as saying by Inside Spanish Football. "We'll be trying to make the most of it, but I'm sure there'll be more beyond this.

"It would be great to play in the Copa del Rey final, but after this semi-final, La Liga continues and we'll have more opportunities to offer our supporters good games."

The winner will face either Villarreal or Barcelona in the final.