Manuel Pellegrini has promised that those most deserving will play for Malaga at Zenit St Petersburg and that the performance will show improvement.
Malaga have won just one of their last six games in all competitions and head into the midweek test in Russua having qualified already for the Last 16 of the Champions League.
Despite having Valencia on the horizon at the weekend, Pellegrini says that his team selection in Europe will be as strong as possible.
“We will see what is best from training, without thinking of Valencia. Here will play the starters who deserve it,” the Chilean told reporters today.
“We have to find the performance of players at all times, but we will see about tomorrow. The XI that start will do very well. All the players are involved and focused on getting a good result. Having qualified does not allow us to relax, we have economic and sporting interests.
“We want to show we can play well. It is true that we did not expect to arrive at this game with 10 points and already qualified, but the fact that we have done means that we have to undertake the same level of football now and go for first place in the group. Zenit are very well managed and will not give us anything.”
Pellegrini also reflected on the team’s predicament in La Liga, as they have dropped off the pace after consecutive home defeats and now sit fifth.
“We are still in a good position, a point away from the Champions League and in the Europa League spot. We had two very bad games at home, but there is room to improve. Tomorrow is what we want to do, improve the level of football that in recent days we have lost.”
