Malaga boss Javi Gracia is remaining positive ahead of his team’s game with Barcelona at La Rosaleda on Wednesday.
The former Almeria and Osasuna Coach says it is one of the best features of his job to face sides like Barca and declared his players are looking forward to the occasion.
“To come up against the best is always part of the challenge to see what you are capable of, so we have to trust in what we are doing.
“More than believing in the probabilities we have to believe in the possibilities,” the 44-year-old told reporters at a pre-match Press conference.
“We have players who want to make their mark and play, even more so in front of our own supporters, and in my own mind I don’t see Barca as being in a different League to ourselves, or anything like that.
“When the game is over we will make that assessment. However, I’m a great believer in fighting for the opportunities that come your way,” he asserted.
Gracia is convinced that Los Blanquiazules will get chances to score and is hoping his players can take advantage of the situation.
“I think we’ll have opportunities. My players have played against teams of this level and each one plays in a different manner, but there is no formula to plan for a game against Barca.
“We have to be faithful to our own style. We have a way of attacking and defending and are a well-balanced team,” he explained.
Gracia, however, was reluctant to divulge his starting line-up, although the squad he has named is the same as that for the 2-2 draw at Espanyol last Saturday.
“I hate to give away what I am going to do as all of us coaches have that small capacity for surprise. In these type of games we need to adjust and see if we can hurt them in attack.
“I have to choose between those we had last week, although the sharing of playing time is going to be important.
“Nonetheless, that is something we will have to face, so we’ll see,” he added.
