Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde was delighted after their 2-0 win at Sevilla.

Mikel Vesga and Aitor Paredes struck for the win.

Valverde said: "It was important to start the year by winning. Sevilla is in a delicate situation with many casualties and we have tried to dominate. We did it in the first half, but we lacked a clearer chance because we knew that Sevilla was going to put pressure on us later.

"They had a very clear situation that Unai stopped and perhaps with the 0-2 we went further behind than we wanted.

"We're fine. It is important to maintain our level of ambition and then the game has to go your way. We have sometimes taken risks under pressure and there are times when we have had to suffer.

"We will fight for the next game, for now for the Cup on Sunday. Then we'll see. Everyone can do whatever they want, but now there are 19 other games in which you have to try to overcome obstacles and not get carried away by euphoria.

"You always have to be at the bottom of the canyon."