As we begin the year and the season continues to heat up, Athletic Club look like a side who have discovered an efficacious formula for success. Returning from the winter break in a promising fourth position, a return to UEFA Champions League football is certainly on the cards for the Basque outfit. Ernesto Valverde’s squad have experienced an incredibly positive campaign thus far, with clear development of their young stars relishing the opportunity to fight for European qualification.

A man at the heart of Bilbao for many years now has been the energetic and versatile figure of Iñaki Williams. Having completed a LaLiga record of 251 consecutive appearances whilst enjoying his career in Spain, fans have grown accustomed to his explosive play and goalscoring prowess. However, this season, we have seen an elevation in his output and effectiveness in the final third- suggesting we may be witnessing his prime years at the age of 29. With a shift in responsibility this season, the dynamics of Athletic’s attack have benefitted from an injection of youthful skill and the likes of Iñaki being able to provide positional variety.

However, since Basque-born Iñaki’s declaration to represent Ghana at the international level in 2022, January is set to be a turbulent and disruptive period for the club. Due to his commitments to playing in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, the absence of Iñaki is set to leave a troubling issue for the best part of a month.

This tactical analysis will begin to highlight how Iñaki Williams has contributed to the upturn in Athletic form this year, reminding them they can compete with the elite teams in Spain once again. With Athletic’s unique transfer policy in mind, this scout report and analysis will also begin to question which internal pieces will be ready to make the leap and assume a more integral role in his absence. It is essential to understand how Athletic can make the most of this unfortunate situation, identifying which alternatives may provide varying qualities to keep their tactics ticking in the final third.

Athletic’s fluidity in attack

Entering his 10th LaLiga season for Athletic Club, Iñaki Williams has continued to display why he has been so appreciated over the years and how there is possibly more to come. This season has shone a light on how tactical changes from manager Ernesto Valverde have managed to create harmony in attack, allowing Williams to develop rapport and interconnect with the club’s younger stars.

Athletic Club maintain a flexible approach to attack, with Valverde altering his approach based on the comfortability of their opposition when in possession. When observing statistics regarding passes per attacking sequence and direct speed, we can suggest that Athletic are very much prone to attacking in transition, utilising their pace out wide to stretch the opposition, creating more space in central areas for their creative orchestrators to flourish.

Their number of direct attacks and how these have been concluded begin to paint the picture of how successful they are on the counter. With a league-high of 202 high turnovers, Athletic possesses a compact defensive shape that looks to engage in the press and, importantly, force the opposition out wide to force mistakes. Despite their success in turnovers, the fact that they lead the league with six goal-ending turnovers would start to tell a more compelling tale, with Valverde’s side being ruthless when winning the ball back.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic have displayed clear intent to win the ball back in the opposition’s third, efficiently translating these opportunities into shot-creating actions and, subsequently, goals.

They haven’t been deterred by the negative connotations related to sides which look to frustrate opponents and take advantage of minimal ball possession- partly due to the fact they can play in several ways should they see fit.

The Importance of Iñaki

With Athletic’s consistent deployment of the 4-2-3-1, you can find Iñaki occupying the space on the right wing, looking to use his physical and technical strengths to impact the play. Having played as a central striker in the past, he has a proficiency that resembles that of an inside forward, driving inside the pitch using his explosive pace and representing an imposing figure within the opposition’s penalty area. His comfortability with both feet has meant that he can become a goal threat anywhere across the forward line, boding well to his club’s fluidity further up the pitch, with interchanging roles and movement stretching and confusing opposing defences.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
Iñaki affects the game well from the right flank, often drifting inside both in and out of possession in order to become a critical threat in the box.
Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
His previous natural tendencies when playing through the middle result in him playing on the shoulder of the last defender, using his speed and physicality to get 1v1 opportunities in front of goal.

Iñaki represents a multi-faceted attacking threat, with combinations of both direct attacking threat and patient hold-up play being used to propel his side. Standing at 6’ 1”, his sheer size and physical presence are often used to outmuscle defenders and create a clear threat from crosses and set pieces. His 61.5% of aerial duels won this season is particularly impressive and sheds light upon how this could be used to not only cap off attacking moves within the box but also to facilitate them as a target man for long passes from deep.

Iñaki has displayed a clear improvement from previous seasons when interpreting how his attacking presence can be translated into both goals and assists. He has represented an ever-present figure in the side over the years, but he has often frustrated many with his goal-scoring underachievement and inability to maintain double-digit tallies. The striker who ‘could do anything but score’ is certainly dispelling those notions this season, with promising figures of 0.46 expected goals per 90 (xG/90) and 1.38 penalty area touches per 90, despite his wider starting position.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
When observing a statistical visualisation of his impact thus far, we can see Iñaki is currently excelling in the attacking phase and is on course for career-high goalscoring numbers.

With Iñaki’s absence at the forefront of Athletic minds, their unique transfer policy and focus on homegrown Basque-born players means that the ongoing winter transfer market can be deemed obsolete for finding necessary cover. However, their excellent youth system means the necessary replacement to continue their electric form can be found much closer to home.

A family affair

Much closer to home can be deemed a real understatement in this scenario, with Valverde deploying Iñaki’s younger brother Nico on the right wing since his departure. At just 21 years of age, Nico Williams has taken a remarkable jump this season, cementing himself in the first team and forming an effective partnership with his brother. Whilst there are many similarities, differences in profile and technical expertise provide an exciting comparison of what we can expect from the youthful winger.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
When comparing the two, despite Iñaki clearly being a more polished overall winger, Nico has shown impressive progress to emulate his older brother.

Nico maintains the direct nature of attack expected of Athletic players this season but still enhances the raw technical ability and element of surprise associated with stars of the future. His dribbling qualities are often displayed when attempting to unlock defences and use his trickery with the ball to progress towards the opponent’s box- something that has made him a standout winger in LaLiga. His 5.98 progressive carries per 90 and 3.64 successful take-ons per 90 begin to imply how much of an offensive threat he has become, often drawing opposing attention for Iñaki to prosper on the far side. Instead of inverting from the left wing, Nico will still be comfortable on the alternative flank, using his speed and technical capabilities to maintain width and drive towards the by-line, creating space for the likes of Sancet and Guruzeta.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
The heightened level of defensive attention was drawn by Nico as a result of his close control and trickery. This then allows teammates to find new pockets of space and anticipate potential crosses into the area.

For all his quality on the ball, there are areas in which Nico is unable to replicate that of his older brother. Whilst he has made strides to increase his statistical output with three goals and five assists already this season, there are elements to his game that still appear raw. Possibly due to a lack of killer instinct and maturity, his decision-making in the final third has a long way to go until it can be considered polished. Despite finding his way into the box, Nico can often look to take on lower probability shooting opportunities at difficult angles instead of looking to pass to a teammate in a more favourable position.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
Despite his elevated numbers this season, we have still seen Nico displaying wasteful tendencies in front of goal, attempting low-probability shots and failing to spot teammates in better areas.

Álex Berenguer

Someone who has observed a detrimental change in their game time since the turn of the season would be Álex Berenguer. The emergence of Nico has meant that Berenguer has only started four games this campaign, meaning with limited opportunities, he has had to show his importance from the bench. An open spot on the wing is a challenge I’m sure he is relishing, providing him with the chance to showcase his worth to Valverde. Despite having only 31 minutes per appearance this season, Berenguer has displayed how he can be a crucial creative outlet. With 2.67 key passes/90 and 0.94 crosses into the box/90, Berenguer looks to further the attack and knows how to get the ball into enticing areas.

With proficiency on both feet, Berenguer also looks to occupy central areas to showcase his shot-creating abilities, stringing passes to direct runners behind the opposition’s defensive line. Even though his statistics can be distorted by the lack of minutes this season, 0.31 xA (expected assists) can lend itself to showcasing how Berenguer can look to keep the goals flowing by providing for his attacking teammates.

Athletic Club 2023/24: How can they manage the absence of Iñaki- scout report-tactical analysis tactics
In his limited opportunities, we have observed Berenguer being an excellent facilitator for the rest of the attack. He has the ability to slow the game down and pick out a pass for runners in behind.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this tactical analysis has addressed why Iñaki Williams has been so important this season and why his omittance from the line-up will not go unnoticed. Although whilst this remains an issue for Ernesto Valverde, he hopes that the gap left by his Ghanaian star will be minimal.

We have highlighted that despite no one on this Athletic side matching Iñaki perfectly, his colleagues’ varying attacking styles and talents will hold them over until his return. Athletic will hope that with some favourable fixtures on the horizon, they can keep their foot on the pedal and find themselves in an even greater position upon his return.