Ghana forward Iñaki Williams has revealed the emotional toll of Athletic Club’s elimination from the Copa del Rey, describing the atmosphere inside the dressing room as deeply sorrowful following their semi-final exit.
The Black Stars attacker played the entire match in the return leg against Real Sociedad at Reale Arena, but his side failed to overturn the first-leg deficit. After suffering a defeat in the opening encounter at San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao were eliminated following a 2–0 aggregate loss that sent their Basque rivals into the final.
Williams admitted that the result was particularly painful due to the intense rivalry between the two clubs. He disclosed that the mood inside the dressing room was similar to mourning, with players visibly affected by the outcome.
“The dressing room feels like a funeral; we are hurting,” he said. “It hurts because they are our eternal rivals and because we were not at our usual level.”
The Athletic Club captain also acknowledged that the team fell short of their expected performance standards and expressed disappointment over missing the opportunity to compete in the final of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will now face Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, scheduled for April 18, 2026.