Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla - Llorente hoping to end European hoodoo with Sevilla

Posted Thursday, April 07, 2016 by PA

Fernando Llorente has admitted he is desperate to finally win a European trophy this year with Sevilla ahead of their quarter-final tie with the striker's old club Athletic Bilbao.

The 31-year-old spent 17 years with Bilbao and was part of the team that was beaten by Atletico Madrid in the 2012 Europa League final before he moved to Juventus.

Llorente reached another final with the Bianconeri last term only to emerge with a runners-up medal once more as Barcelona won the Champions League in Berlin.

So while Sevilla are out to make history and win a third straight Europa League title, Llorente is determined to just secure his first continental cup triumph.

"I really want it," he told UEFA.com.

"Both the Europa League and the Champions League finals were good experiences but had a bad outcome. It's like a thorn in your side that you want to remove but you never know when you might have the chance. I hope it happens this season."

Much has been made of Jurgen Klopp's return to Borussia Dortmund with Liverpool on Thursday but Llorente will also be back on familiar ground that night having not played at San Mames since departing in 2013.

Llorente played over 260 games for Bilbao, scoring 85 times, and he insists he was "proud" to wear their colours.

"It was a surprise having to face the club where I started playing but it will be nice," he added of the reunion.

"It will be strange as well, though, because I spent 17 wonderful years of my life in Bilbao. I am proud to have come through a big club like Athletic. It was always an honour to play for them.

"Now it is my turn to play against them, and I will give everything for the Sevilla shirt. It will certainly be a very hard match. They have a great team and they've been playing really well in the last year."

Although Sevilla are chasing a third straight Europa League crown, their away form this term has been poor and they are yet to win on the road in either this competition or the Primera Division.

However, Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde has reminded his players the outcome will be decided over two legs and knows their Spanish compatriots' record in this competition is impressive.

Speaking at his press conference on Wednesday, Valverde said: "Quarter-finals are two matches, I don't believe anything will be decided tomorrow.

"It's clear they are defending their wins of the last two years, they really know how to compete in the Europa League."

Bilbao have injury concerns over strikers Iker Muniain and Inaki Williams while Sevilla have been able to name Michael Krohn-Dehli in their squad after he missed their past two league games.