Real Sociedad fullback Joseba Zaldua says they can be proud if European football is secured this season.

La Real remain alive for European qualification.

He told AS: "Yes, we are very close to achieving (Europe) for the third year in a row at home. It's complicated but we have a lot of ambition and a lot of desire to achieve it.

"What I am telling you is that it is very complicated. With the rivals and budgets with which we fight, it has tremendous merit. It's spectacular and sometimes we don't realise how difficult it is and we don't give the value it has to what we're doing. We don't value it enough. Entering for the third year in a row in Europe would be fantastic.

"We have to go game by game knowing that we have five very difficult days left. Because in the Primera Division any team can hurt you. You have to go day by day to be as high as possible in the end."