“This is an award for Unai and Nico and also for those who make up Athletic”

Athletic is lucky. Two of its players have been nominated for the world’s best individual awards. Nico Williams selecting for the Ballon d’Or awarded by UEFA and France Football magazine and First Simon in the Trophy Lev Yasmin as the best goalkeeper in the world last season. The decision will be announced at a gala to be held on October 28 at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris. The winger is competing with 29 other international footballers, among them prestigious players from Mbappe, Harry Kane, Vinicius, Block, Cross either Bellingham. The one from Murgia is seeking the award along with nine other goalkeepers, the Portuguese Diogo Costathe Italian Gianluigi Donnarummathe swiss Gregor Kobelthe ukrainian Andriy Luninthe French Mike Maignanthe Georgian Giorgi Mamardashvilithe Argentine Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinezthe swiss Yann Sommer and the south africa Ronwen Williams.

@ballondor 2024

“This is something very important and a reward for all of us who make up the #AthleticClub“#MadeInEuskalHerria pic.twitter.com/AjgomvJN0U

— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) September 5, 2024

“>

These nominations come after the great season he had at Athletic under the orders of Ernesto Valverde. The coach reviewed these two good news with the club’s official media. “For them it is a joy and also a recognition of what they did last season both at the club level, winning the Cup and finishing fifth in the League, and at the national team level, winning the Euro Cup. It is something meaningful, a reward for them and a little bit for us as part of Athletic. “It’s a joy for us,” he said.

Below, he defines each of them: “first He had a great season in the League, we managed to win the Cup, he won Zamora as the goalkeeper with the fewest goals scored and then in the national team he was proclaimed European champion. The truth is that a series of circumstances have been found that make him worthy of this nomination. Let’s see if he can get it later. I wish”.

Nico Williams He scored eight goals, five in the League and three in the Cup, in addition to offering eleven assists in the first competition (the second best passer behind the Villarreal player Alex Baena) and five in the second. Later, he was one of the most famous footballers in the European Championship in Germany, when Barça’s interest in acquiring his services appeared and with it the whole subsequent soap opera. He scored 1-0 in the final against England (2-1) and was named MVP of the title match. This is the first time that an Athletic footballer is among the nominees for the best in the world. “This is mainly for his work in our team and also for his work in the national team. We are happy. I hope he has a chance to win the Ballon d’Or,” said the coach.

Txingurri also wants to send a message about the current campaign, with four competitions at stake – League, Cup, Europa League and Super Cup – and a large number of games ahead. At least there will be 48, although it is possible that there will be more if the lions succeed in the League stage of the second continental tournament and the round of 32 in the KO. Demand has increased significantly. “All that last season. In this one we have to try to do something similar or at least at the highest level. We know that everything is difficult but we want to get points in the League, we want to have a good campaign in Europe and have a good year in the Cup which requires a great effort, it will be a complicated season but willing us. We celebrate these nominations, but at the same time we look at what lies ahead,” warned the coach.