Iñaki Williams understands why fans are watching him more closely

“I understand that people are looking at me more closely,” Williams said. The Athletic forward acknowledged that public scrutiny had intensified in recent months, when neither he nor his team had shown their best form. He has also started all six of Athletic’s league matches.

Asked about being at the centre of the debate, he recalled playing alongside great footballers during his career and said that, eventually, everyone faces such scrutiny. After many seasons of seeing the same face, he suggested, supporters may want change, younger players in the starting eleven and new talent coming through. “I understand that people, after so many seasons, look at me more closely,” he said.

Williams wants to keep playing, competing and improving, while recognising that his role could change. He expects younger players to come through and accepts that he may often start on the bench or not play. “That’s football,” he said, adding that he would try to help everyone and remain close to the younger players, whatever position he was given. He sees himself as an Athletic “One Club Man”.

His commitment to the club is clear: “I’ll retire here. I don’t want to wear any shirt other than Athletic’s.” He added that when the club no longer considered him an important part of the team, he would step aside and go to San Mamés with his son to watch new legends emerge.

Collectively, he described qualifying for Europe as “an obligation”. After a less successful season last year, he also wants to return to the goalscoring numbers he reached in previous seasons and enjoy his football again. He believes the team missed chances to compete for Europe last year, partly because the attacking players, himself included, were not at their level.

Asked about his brother Nico’s recent injury, Iñaki said the young player still needed to learn to understand his body. He said Nico was doing everything he could to avoid injuries, while noting that luck also plays a part. In recent days, Nico had also faced criticism after reposting on X, formerly Twitter, a message criticising Athletic supporters, before quickly removing it.

Iñaki called social media “society’s rubbish dump” and discussed the advice he gives younger players in the dressing room. “My brother has been through some pretty heated situations over the past two years and has had several slip-ups on social media. As his older brother and captain, I try to give him the best advice I can, but sometimes you can’t control what someone else does. I always tell him that if it’s keeping him awake, he should get off social media and he’ll live more peacefully,” he explained.