Ernesto Valverde will face the media tonight at St James' Park but arrives on Tyneside under fire
(Image: Carl Recine - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
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Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde will arrive at St James' Park feeling the heat from the Spanish media after Saturday's Basque derby defeat to Real Sociedad.
TV cameras followed his every move as Athletic slumped to a 3-2 loss and they are now on a run of just two wins from the last 11 matches, sitting 11th in La Liga. Bearing in mind Bilbao finished in fourth place last season you can see why there are questions being asked of the ex-Barcelona chief's position right now.
Valverde and his squad arrive from Northern Spain at teatime, but the Spanish boss snubbed the chance to train on the hallowed turf at St James' Park for an open session in front of watching Tyneside journalists. Instead, Valverde will face the media at around 6.30pm with the likes of Marca and El Pais watching on.
Not a lot is expected of Bilbao who have just three points to their name in the Champions League this season. And even though Newcastle have their own worries, Eddie Howe's side are the favourites to cement their place in the last 16 with three home points.
In comparison, Valverde is under greater pressure than Howe and according to El Correo he was caught on camera lambasting his own players on Saturday saying: "What a f------ mess these guys are in, man!"
He then clashed with a Sociedad player Jon Aramburu warning him: "Don't be such a cocky guy, eh. Then you go out there and talk." With Bilbao's squad seemingly on edge going into the clash on Tyneside, it is little wonder some of their fans arrived early to Newcastle for a couple of sedative beers.
And the game at St James' Park almost feels like it will be a friendly affair in many ways given the connection between the two clubs. Of course, the two teams fought across two legs in the old UEFA Cup in 1994 when a 3-3 aggregate score put the Basque side through to the next round.
But that game is not only remembered for the six goals and entertaining encounter for Kevin Keegan's side. Indeed, during an era in which English football was just getting back on its feet after a UEFA ban for crowd disturbances, the two sets of fans showed how it should be done.
The first leg had resulted in Newcastle flying into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Ruel Fox, Peter Beardsley (pen), and Andy Cole, but as a Mexican Wave went around St James' with the clock on 57 minutes, the narrative changed as Bilbao pulled two away goals back.
Newcastle United Fans and Supporters, crowd scenes - Newcastle fans in Spain for the game with UEFA cup game with Athletic Bilbao 1 November 1994
Newcastle United Fans and Supporters, crowd scenes - Newcastle fans in Spain for the game with UEFA cup game with Athletic Bilbao 1 November 1994
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Before the second leg, Newcastle fans drank and sung in the streets of Bilbao and stood arm in arm, side by side in unison before the game. On the streets, United fans waved the Basque flag and in turn the home fans followed suit with Newcastle flags.
The deciding tie was won 1-0 by Bilbao and the Basque outfit went through on the old away goal rule.
But the scenes at the end of the game were nothing short of remarkable and had they occurred now would have gone viral on social media. After the final whistle, the Bilbao fans raced onto the pitch towards the Newcastle fans.
However, it wasn't to attack them, it was to stand in front of them and applaud with Newcastle's travelling fans warmly showing their appreciation despite the defeat.
Since then, Bilbao have been back for Rob Lee's testimonial 24 years ago and in a friendly in 2022 with both sides winning a game each. Perhaps it was fate that one day the two teams would meet again in a competitive game and a warm atmosphere is expected tomorrow night.