Marcelino García Toral has once again highlighted the enormous potential of Nico Williams, one of the players he handed a first-team debut to during his time in charge of Athletic Club. The Asturian coach reflected on the winger’s development and expressed his conviction that the Spain international’s best football is still yet to come.
“Nico is still far from reaching his full potential,” Marcelino said when discussing the player’s progress. The coach recalled that, from his very first training sessions with the senior squad, it was already clear that Nico possessed something special. “You could already see that he was a different kind of player,” Marcelino explained, remembering how the club made the joint decision to delay his permanent promotion to the first team in order to help Bilbao Athletic achieve promotion.
Once Nico made the definitive step up, Marcelino never doubted his ability to succeed. “We have witnessed constant improvement, proving that he is a truly outstanding player,” the Asturian coach said, convinced that the Spanish international still has significant room for further development in the years ahead.
Marcelino also highlighted the importance of the player’s family environment. In his view, the support of his family—especially his brother Iñaki—together with his strong values and ambition, have been fundamental to his development. “He is an extraordinary young man with outstanding values,” Marcelino said.
Speaking about the pubalgia injury that has affected Nico over the past two seasons, Marcelino expressed his confidence that the winger will return to his very best once he has fully overcome the physical issue. “He will regain some of the physical qualities that are even more decisive for a player with his profile,” he explained.
Marcelino’s reflections once again underline one of the defining characteristics of his coaching career: his ability to identify young talent, guide its development and create the right environment for players to fulfil their potential. A philosophy that was clearly evident with Nico Williams and has been a hallmark of the Asturian coach throughout his career.