Ghana international Iñaki Williams has admitted disappointment following Athletic Bilbao’s elimination from the Copa del Rey semifinals by Basque rivals Real Sociedad.
The Black Stars forward played the full 90 minutes in the decisive second leg at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta on Wednesday night, but Bilbao were unable to overturn their first-leg deficit from the clash at San Mamés Stadium, eventually exiting the competition 2–0 on aggregate.
The Basque side has endured a difficult campaign compared to last season, when coach Ernesto Valverde guided the club back into European competition after a lengthy absence.
After 26 matches in La Liga, Bilbao sit ninth on the table with 35 points, leaving them with work to do in the closing stages of the season.
Their struggles have also extended to Europe, where the Spanish outfit failed to meet expectations in the UEFA Champions League and exited during the group stage.
Reacting after the defeat, Williams described the mood in the dressing room as somber.
“The dressing room feels like a funeral; we are hurting,” he said. “It hurts because they are our eternal rivals.”
Meanwhile, Sociedad will face Atlético Madrid in the final on April 18, 2026.
