"What I loved most was their determination from the get-go," Valverde gushed. "This team has what it takes to reach the final. Today was a special day for us, and our fans were right behind us. When we connect with our people, we're a force to be reckoned with."

"Our plan was to make the most of playing at San Mamés. We needed to set the pace, and they were defending well. We had our chances, but it was that last play that sealed it for us. We held on and took the lead."

Now, Athletic faces Manchester United in the semis, and Valverde isn't sugar-coating it: "It's going to be a tough match, especially with the second leg away. They have the Europa League as a route to the Champions League. It changes our perspective a bit, but we're going to give them a strong match."