Paco Jemez says that Rayo Vallecano must put last year’s achievements behind them so as to try and do better in 2013-14.
The Madrid minnows finished a credible eighth place in La Liga last season, which would have qualified them for the Europa League, but for their thus-far failure to collect a UEFA licence.
For their Coach, it is now time to put last year behind them, if they have any hopes of replicating their performance this year.
“I do not set any goals for this season, I want to go game by game and forget what happened last year,” Jemez commented in his first Press conference of the season.
“It was good, it was fantastic and perhaps it has not been truly valued, but it has passed, it’s gone and this is another year. Now we will be judged by what we do this year.
“Football is a constant demonstration every day and you cannot live in the past.
“Our idea is to improve, always to improve, and although that is very complicated, we want to do better than last year, which is not impossible.”
Rayo began preseason training two days ago, with a much changed squad that Jemez admitted he hopes to add to.
“These are the early days. The players have been pretty good but the first few steps are hard, but they are putting in a lot of effort.
“The intensity is still very good and there is great willingness to work.
“It was expected that many people would leave the club as due to our situation we could not have long contracts and we are a club that needs to sell.
“After the season we had, it was normal for people to leave and we have seen many players transferred.
“Now we are working to bring in players. We want to sign seven or eight more players.
“I wish I had 24 players, two per position, but it will be quite complicated. I want to have a squad with a minimum of 21 first team players, because the season is very long and hopefully we will not suffer too many injuries.”
