‘We were talking to Sosa, but…’

Bernd Schuster has conceded his disappointment in losing Jose Sosa to Atletico Madrid, as he reflects on the hope Malaga can build on recent confidence.

The Costa del Sol outfit this week saw reputed transfer target Sosa agree to a loan switch from Metalist to Atleti.

Playing host to Los Colchoneros this weekend, attention has focused on how the Anchovies were understood to have primarily reached an agreement with the Argentine, before the capital club’s actions.

“It is a shame about Sosa as since November we had been talking to him,” conceded Schuster in today’s Press conference.

“We had word from him that, if he was to leave Metalist, he would come to Malaga. But when there is a team like Atletico Madrid that come in at the last minute, the subject changes.

“Today, words are worthless if you do not have a signature. But very well. We continue with this squad.

“There is still time and we are not nervous about this and have the possibility for players arriving for the second half of the season.”

The German was asked of Malaga’s hopes in hosting an Atleti side this weekend who are joint top of the table.

“We want to use as a starting point, the final five games before the winter break, where we repeated the same team in almost every game.

“Maintaining the block is important. The team has taken this confidence through good results and this is important for this game against one of the toughest opponents we can face in the Spanish League.”

Earlier today Diego Simeone paid tribute to Schuster and remarked on how he would have liked to have played with him – Simeone first signed for Atleti in 1994, a year after Schuster had left.

“I wish I had met him as a player. He would have been a nice complement to me for the way he played on the field. We would have understood each other perfectly.

“As a Coach he has made his way, and has had a spectacular career in such little time and his approach as a player has translated to being a Coach and he has embedded into the philosophy of Atletico Madrid. His way of identifying with the club is perfect.”

Tags Schuster Simeone Sosa
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