Athletic Bilbao coach Valverde praises 'essential' 2-goal Villalibre after Copa win

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde was left delighted with their Copa del Rey win against Alaves.

Asier Villalibre struck twice for the 2-0 victory.

Valverde said: "I am happy with qualifying and when you make changes you make them because there is confidence and you believe that there is a team to win. In the first half we were able to score more and in the second they went a little ahead and Julen saved us. We are happy because the match was very fair compared to the previous one.

"When you win, the reading is always positive, but to win you have to work hard and tilt the field towards your goal. Our defence has conceded little and the little we have conceded, our goalkeeper has been great. Being well is not a product of before, it is something that must be worked on. We have been forceful, which is something we look for playing in the opposite field."

On Villalibre's goals, he added: "He is very successful and it is essential to have players who convert what you generate. Ultimately it's about that, reaching areas where it can be finished in a good way. Asier is at that point and today he has been very combative, which I ask a lot of him. He has taken a step forward."