Cuenca: Athletic Bilbao will be tough

Barcelona’s Isaac Cuenca feels Athletic Bilbao’s defeat in the Europa League final will not give them extra motivation for the Copa del Rey final.

The Basque side suffered a 3-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the continental final on Wednesday, which leaves the Copa del Rey as the only chance for them to claim silverware this season.

Barca meet Athletic in the Copa del Rey final on May 25 and Cuenca said the match will be a tough contest.

“I do not think they will be more motivated because they lost,” Cuenca said.

“It will be a very hard and complicated match. I do not think they were nervous against Atletico, but they faced a very tough opponent.

“I guess they will fix all the mistakes they made yesterday and the game will be harder for us.”

The 21-year-old also commented on his situation at Camp Nou, and gave little credence to reports suggesting that he is on his way out of the club.

“I try to distance myself about what is said about signings or player exits because it will be the club to decide and then I will be told what I have to do,” he said.

“No one wants to be leave, not even on loan, because you do not know what is going to happen.

“But if the club decide that I have to leave, then I will – that is clear.”