Darko Kovacevic says Real Sociedad must heed their only previous experience of the Champions League and find suitable balance between Europe and La Liga.
La Real begin their second ever Champions League campaign tonight at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and have the backing of one member of the last Real team to reach the competition. , their former striker who inspired them to their first stint in the competition 10 years ago.
“Real Sociedad look very, very good,” former striker Kovacevic reflected to Mundo Deportivo today.
“They have the team to have a good Champions League campaign and go far.”
However, the 39-year-old also believes that the club will do well to remember their 2003-04 campaign in the competition, which affected their League form.
“They should not focus only on the Champions League, they must still look for as many points as possible in the League.
“You will remember that we did quite well in the Champions League, but we did not do well in La Liga and had to wait almost until the last game of the season to ensure we stayed in the Primera Division. With the great team that we had! It’s a big job for the Coach and for the players.
“Like or not, you do think about the Champions League game, before playing in the League. We went to Albacete before Turin and, good or bad, the game in Italy was in our minds.
“But between the Coach and the veteran players, the team must put all their energy into the League as well. This is very important.
“The rotations that Jagoba Arrasate is doing are fundamental. La Real must enjoy themselves against Shakhtar, but also go to the death next Saturday against Malaga.”
