Getafe Coach Luis Garcia Plaza has again shied away from discussing his side’s chances of European qualification.
The club from the Madrid suburbs have won their last two, are currently 7th, and will draw level with Malaga if they defeat them at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez tomorrow. Los Boquerones boss Manuel Pellegrini has today described Getafe as rivals in the race for the Champions League spots, but Garcia Plaza is having none of it.
“Why would we talk about Europe? Let’s talk about winning,” began the former Levante chief. “Do we hear Atletico Madrid talking about the title? No. Let’s just try and score points. Two weeks ago we talked about decline, but in truth it’s neither one nor the other.”
The tactician was willing to concede that things are going well in comparison to season 2011-12 though.
“It’s true that we are in an exciting time. Last year at this time we were in a point of decline and this year we are on the verge of Europe. Last year we were knocked out in the first round of the Cup and this year we have gone through.”
Garcia Plaza is impressed by what Malaga have achieved after selling off the likes of Santi Cazorla and Salomon Rondon.
“When a team passes through economic difficulties it strengthens them. In the summer they were convulsed with doubts, but later did well in the Champions League. Cazorla was a great player, but the rest they have retained and up front, I believe [Javier] Saviola and [Roque] Santa Cruz give more benefits than Rondon and [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy.”
