‘Alcaraz the perfect replacement’

Quique Pina has described new Granada Coach Lucas Alcaraz as ‘the perfect substitute’, commenting that Juan Antonio Anquela was ‘a personal gamble’.

Pina had previously backed La Liga rookie Anquela when he came under pressure earlier in the season, but took action this week to replace him with Alcaraz, with the team just two points above relegation.

“Alcaraz is the perfect substitute, even if his enthusiasm and love is not going to win anything by itself. But, there is no Coach that knows the team better,” commented the President, before explaining Anquela’s departure.

“The situation with Anquela had much suffering to it and I have liberated him, but he does not understand that now.

“He was a personal gamble and for his work and honesty there have been many highs, but the team have not been lucky enough to score enough goals.

“The team needed a change in terms of tranquillity. I believe that the team with Anquela could have avoided relegation, but I had the obligation to use my head and not my heart.

“I do not close the door to working with him in any other situation.”

Pina also took questions on the club’s busy transfer window and confirmed that it may not be over yet, admitting that a deal to bring in Diego Bounanotte from Malaga was ‘close to being signed’.

Tags Alcaraz Anquela Pina
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