Malaga striker Samuel Garcia believes it will be even more difficult to gain a place in the starting line-up this year.
The 24-year-old [pictured, left] made his debut for Los Blanquiazules in the opening game of last season against Valencia, going on to make 27 appearances, but maintains that this time round there is more quality in Javi Gracia’s squad.
“There are now a lot of players in my position, a lot of competition. But that’s good as nobody can relax.
“It’s true that this year it’s going to be tougher for me or any other player to get minutes on the pitch,” he told the club’s official website.
Malaga-born Samuel came through the club’s youth academy and says he is proud to be the senior statesman in a list that includes others that have made the breakthrough into the first team, such as Juanmi, Samu Castillejo and Juanpi.
“It’s great to see home-grown players get into the first team squad and I try to help in any way I can.
“We have lots of new players, yet I think things are going as we thought they would and we are getting better all the time.”
Samuel has struggled with injury over the summer and joined pre-season training later than the rest of the players, something he feels has hampered his progress so far this term.
“I feel quite good at the moment. The injury meant I joined the group later and I’m noticing it a lot, so now I need to try and get back to 100 per cent as quickly as possible,” he explained.
