Malaga’s Chilean midfielder Manuel Iturra is fully aware of what Sunday’s League meeting with Atletico Madrid represents.
The Costa del Sol outfit play host this Week 26 to La Liga’s second-placed Atleti, still currently holding on to the fourth and final Champions League position themselves.
“It’s a very important match, not just because it’s Atletico Madrid, but because of our ambition to stay in the running for Champions League positions next year,” Iturra told reporters this week in his Press conference.
“There are a lot of direct rivals all vying for the top spots, and losing out on points in home games can be the difference between qualifying for European football or not. With regards to the future, Sunday’s match is very important for us.
“They’re a solid team, who are always tight in defence as well as on the attack. Their intense style of play and quality players are the reason why they’re in second place in the League.”
Malaga go into the weekend’s game off the back of consecutive defeats to Porto and Real Betis.
“We knew we weren’t at our best in either of these matches, with both rivals preventing us from imposing our style of game play.
“As a team, we didn’t control the ball at all well and made too many mistakes. The most important thing now is to turn the page, try and change our image from the last two matches, and focus on this weekend’s game, against an important rival.
“We need to restore our usual style of play and ensure that the three points stay at home on Sunday.
“It’s been tough in recent matches to secure a home win, but we need to maintain our focus on us as a team and return to our way of playing football, so that we can claim a victory at La Rosaleda.”
Iturra is out of contract in the summer.
“My representative is looking into it, and up until now I haven’t heard anything. My focus is solely on Sunday’s game at the moment.
“Would I like to stay? Absolutely.”
