Javi Gracia has assured his Malaga players that targeting European qualification will not be a burden ahead of Saturday’s trip to Granada in La Liga.
The Andalucians are currently seventh in the table and lie four points behind Villarreal, who occupy the last Europa League berth above them, but a win against their regional neighbours this weekend could see the gap closed to just one.
“The objective [of staying up] seems to have been fulfilled,” the Coach told reporters.
“The ambition or dream of qualifying for Europe doesn’t have to be a burden on the team.
“It’s the beginning of something new and now we must try competing near the top [of the table].
“We need to put on our most ambitious faces and see where we’re able to go.
"We want continue improving until the end of the season because the team want to be ambitious.
“We mustn’t be submissive [of our 4-1 defeat to Levante], but we’ll remember the things we need to improve on.
“[Granada] are the lowest scorers but have drawn the most games at home.
“Each match will be a great final for us, but [Granada] aren’t usually very kind to Malaga.
“They’re an organised team with quick wingers, so we have to be very organised ourselves.”
