Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini says the League is still his priority despite the club’s first-ever Champions League appearance looming.
The Andalusians entertain Panathinaikos in the first leg of the competition’s qualifying round on Wednesday, yet despite the excitement of the fans and the possibility of new signings being brought in the Chilean declined to discuss the matter.
Instead he wants to focus on Saturday’s League opener at Celta Vigo.
“The priority is La Liga. Right now we are who we are and have to get the points.
“We must think about the Celta game and now is not the appropriate time to talk about other issues,” he told a Press conference.
Unlike last week, Pellegrini avoided any mention of Malaga’s financial woes after being put up for sale by owner Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani, and only wanted to talk about Celta.
“I hope we display a good level of football against a team that is returning to La Primera after a five-year absence.
“Above all, they will have the backing of the fans and will be a very difficult rival who will have added motivation.
“They play good football and pass the ball around well. We will have to be at our best to beat them,” he added.
Pellegrini also referred to the surprise inclusion of 16-year-old Cameroon forward Fabrice Olinga, who arrived at Malaga from Real Mallorca in the summer.
“He has a great future and has worked with us a lot in pre-season and could be very important.”
