Camacho: Malaga not as strong

Malaga midfielder Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Camacho has admitted that Los Blanquiazules are not as strong as last year.

Several big names have departed La Rosaleda over the past 12 months, after owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani withdrew his financial backing, and former Atletico Madrid man Camacho believes the squad assembled so far this summer is still a man or two short.

“I think that in all teams there must be a mix. The players who have left have gone to some big teams, yet so far we’ve signed young players, with the exception of [Fernando] Tissone,” Camacho told reporters at the opening of Malaga’s newly-refurbished club shop inside the stadium.

“We are missing at least one player, and what’s more the boss has requested one. If he’s asked then it’s clear we need to bring somebody in.

“I won’t mislead you because we are not as strong as last season. With the new signings we will try to do as best we can, although it’s too early to talk about Europe and we must take things step by step.

“This year we will need to fight more than ever. It’s going to be difficult but it will be a new and wonderful experience.”

Camacho conceded that Bernd Schuster’s squad is still lacking in the fitness department. before the friendly with Aston Villa in Birmingham on Saturday.

“Perhaps we are bit short of being at peak physical fitness, but right now we are just focusing on Malaga and not looking at the rest. We don’t have time for that,” he maintained.

Camacho is one of 20 players Schuster will be taking to England this weekend for Saturday’s friendly with Aston Villa in Birmingham.

The injured Flavio Ferreira, Sergio Sanchez and Eliseu are all left at home to continue treatment, while young striker Juanmi has been omitted for technical reasons.

Tags Camacho Schuster Tissone
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