Iñaki Williams: ‘It’s belonging. For the people and for us, Athletic is a religion’

The Ghana international on how recent successes and his club’s feeling and culture fuel hope for their semi-final with Manchester UnitedIñaki Williams, the fastest footballer in town, is accelerating again. The more the images come, the quicker he goes, flying through faces, flashbacks and feelings, everything they did and can still do. “It’s madness,” he says, eyes sparkling, the words chasing each other out, emotion building. And then the Athletic Bilbao winger pauses and laughs. “The other day they came to do tests. The cardiologist started to talk about it. He says: ‘That was wonderful; wow, the gabarra …’ And just him mentioning it, on the screen you saw my heart beating faster.”The gabarra is a barge. Only that’s not all: there is something almost mythical about it, like a legend passed through generations. In an expression of Athletic’s identity, another idiosyncrasy of a unique club, the club’s trophies are celebrated by pulling the gabarra up the Nervión river with the players on board, or so they had been endlessly told, black and white pictures adorning the walls of seemingly every bar. Then, last April, they finally saw it for themselves, Williams leading them on board holding the Copa del Rey. It was the first time in 40 years. More than a million fans lined the river to see it: there were more people with them in Bilbao than live there. Continue reading...

Comments

Football news

Giovanni van Bronckhorst addresses shock Leeds link amid Rangers takeover

Alisha Lehmann 'splits with Douglas Luiz amid differences over Juventus future' - as ex-Aston Villa star nears exit following nightmare season

about 2 hours ago

Ousmane Dembele's injury update ahead of Champions League second leg with Arsenal after limping off at the Emirates with a hamstring issue

about 2 hours ago

Why Man Utd would have missed out on Ronaldo, Rooney and Keane if they had rivals’ unique transfer and selection policy

Cristiano Ronaldo repeatedly shrugs and appears to argue with himself after latest Al-Nassr heartbreak - as he looks set to end the season trophyless

about 3 hours ago

Lamine Yamal putting Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to shame as staggering stats comparison of stars at 17 emerges

Comments

Football news

Giovanni van Bronckhorst addresses shock Leeds link amid Rangers takeover

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland back in training after injury

Micah Richards walks out of CBS studio after Inter Milan star savages him

Transgender women banned from women’s football in England as FA explain reason why

Lucy Bronze wants WSL champions Chelsea ‘to stay unbeaten’ with Blues targeting invincible end to season

Ruben Amorim warns Man Utd fans that winning Europa League would be ‘nothing more than a shortcut’ after horror season

FA will BAN trans women from women’s football next season after ‘win for common sense’ Supreme Court ruling

I never wanted to be Chelsea manager but took over because the players begged me to coach them, says former boss

FA bans transgender women from playing women’s football

FA to ban trans women from playing women’s football

Djurgarden vs Chelsea: Conference League prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h, odds today

Ruben Amorim explains why Manchester United may reject Viktor Gyokeres transfer

FA to ban transgender women from playing women's football in England

Celtic unveil blockbuster adidas extension as champions announce biggest ever kit deal

I'm Premier League record goalscorer and this is the current star I wish I'd played alongside

Gio van Bronckhorst breaks Leeds United silence as Marco Rose given Rangers seal of approval

Gary Neville asks ChatGPT to settle Liverpool vs Manchester United debate as he bites back at 'biggest club' claims

Leeds United star makes feelings clear on Daniel Farke as sacking fears emerge

Micah Richards walks out of TV studio after Inter Milan star destroys him over his suit

Matheus Cunha sent Man Utd reminder by team-mate with Wolves two points above them

'I hosted house party that David Beckham attended – someone showed up flashing €500 notes'

10 huge transfers we could see this summer including Viktor Gyokeres and Marcus Rashford

Ruben Amorim drops Man Utd transfer bombshell in response to Viktor Gyokeres talks

Inter star Marcus Thuram insists there are two players better than 'genius' Lamine Yamal

Liverpool turned down by billionaire investors for Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham

Alisha Lehmann 'splits with Douglas Luiz amid differences over Juventus future' - as ex-Aston Villa star nears exit following nightmare season

Ousmane Dembele's injury update ahead of Champions League second leg with Arsenal after limping off at the Emirates with a hamstring issue

Why Man Utd would have missed out on Ronaldo, Rooney and Keane if they had rivals’ unique transfer and selection policy

Julen Lopetegui closing in on return to management just four months after being sacked by West Ham

How Athletic Bilbao built squad for less than the price of Man Utd’s Andre Onana with unique transfer policy

‘The girls don’t like it’ – Kate Abdo tells Micah Richards off on live TV for using WRONG toilets at CBS studios

Emile Heskey backs four teams to rival Liverpool for the Premier League title next season

Mikel Arteta sent sack warning by Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann

‘A talent born every 50 years’: Lamine Yamal stuns football world with dazzling display against Inter

Manchester United XI vs Athletic Club: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Europa League today

Tottenham XI vs Bodo/Glimt: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Europa League today

Athletic Club vs Manchester United: Europa League prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h, odds today

Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt: Europa League prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h, odds today

Chelsea XI vs Djurgarden: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Conference League today

Celtic 2025/26 home kit 'leaked' as new tartan design all but confirms one thing

David Turnbull facing 'huge Cardiff City question mark' as ex Celtic star reaches transfer crossroads

Rangers kingmaker flattened Gareth Bale and left Joe Jordan raging as insider reckons he's already at work at Ibrox

ITV face Eni Aluko dilemma for Euro 2025 after ‘traumatising’ Ian Wright fallout

Man Utd reveal Viktor Gyokeres transfer stance after Sporting Lisbon hint

Sir Alex Ferguson comment ridiculed by Liverpool legend Phil Thompson after title win

Man Utd scout 'Serbian Jude Bellingham' as new wonderkid transfer target emerges

'Shocking' Tottenham slammed for 'disrespecting' fans before Bodo/Glimt semi-final

Football fans mock Cristiano Ronaldo following bizarre response to semi-final loss

Liverpool star's silence on Premier League title win speaks volumes as Jose Mourinho waits

Thierry Henry calls for the return of scrapped Champions League rule after Inter Milan's 3-3 thriller against Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo repeatedly shrugs and appears to argue with himself after latest Al-Nassr heartbreak - as he looks set to end the season trophyless

Lamine Yamal putting Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to shame as staggering stats comparison of stars at 17 emerges

Leeds join Sean Longstaff transfer race with £10m Newcastle star also wanted by Premier League rivals

Former Premier League star, 51, who won four promotions reveals winning league title in NEPAL is biggest achievement

Athletic Bilbao vs Man Utd: Confirmed team news, predicted lineups and injuries

The unique problem Athletic Bilbao must overcome to fulfil Europa League dream

The duality of Manchester United’s strange season could lead to glorious failure

Chelsea dominance is inevitable but the WSL’s problem is not their fault

How to watch Djurgarden vs Chelsea: TV channel and live stream for Conference League today

How to watch Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United: TV channel and live stream for Europa League today