Former Malaga boss Javi Gracia has talked down a possible return to the club as pressure mounts on current incumbent Michel.
The Andalusians have picked up just one point from a possible 24 this season and remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, five points from safety, and Gracia is being strongly linked with the post if Michel departs, although he has received a vote of confidence from newly-appointed director of football Mario Husillos.
The 47-year-old coached Malaga between 2014 and 2016, leading Los Blanquiazules to eighth and ninth place respectively, before joining Rubin Kazan.
However, he left the Russian outfit by mutual consent before the start of this season and, despite having also been touted as a possible target for Alaves, is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“Would I return to Malaga? To ask me that would be to show a lack of respect to those who are there, to whom I wish all the best,” Gracia told beIN Sports’ ‘El Club’ programme. “There are still lots of points to play for and time for them to react. It’s a very delicate moment, with only one point from eight games, but I have every confidence in the players, coaching staff and Michel.”
Gracia does not believe that the present crisis is a result of bad luck and feels this should at least be accompanied by a touch of realism.
“As Michel says, in this run of form nothing goes your way and decisions can go against you, a goal disallowed… but to analyse these things for so long is to get away from reality, although it does form part of it,” he added.
