Celta Vigo vs Malaga preview - Pellegrini pleased to be back in action

Posted Saturday, August 18, 2012 by PA

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is hoping his players can overcome an unsettling period during the close season when they get their league campaign underway at Celta Vigo.

The Andalusians were forced to sell three of their key players from last season in Santi Cazorla, Salomon Rondon and Joris Mathijsen to meet debts just to allow them to play in the Primera Division this season.

And rumours persist that more key players could be sold before the August 31 transfer deadline, particularly if they fail to overcome Panathinaikos in their Champions League qualifier.

The first leg against the Greeks comes on Wednesday night, but Pellegrini insists his players' focus must remain on the task in hand against Celta.

He told the club's website: "We have already been working for 40 days so we hope to arrive at a good level against a team who, obviously, will be full of excitement to be returning to the Primera after five years.

"They will have the crowd up for it and supporting them, and we will face a very difficult opponent.

"Without any doubt Wednesday is a very important game for the history of the club and the current moment the club is living through, both economically and on a sporting level.

"But, inside we have to be very conscious that perhaps for the first time we are going to be involved in two parallel competitions.

"We have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to worry about the Champions League though, and for now all that concerns us is Celta."

Julio Baptista is out injured for Malaga so Seba Fernandez will start up front as he is the only fit senior striker available to Pellegrini.

Celta, meanwhile, will host a Primera Division game for the first time since 2007 and midfielder Enrique de Lucas believes they are ready for the challenge.

He told Marca: "The team is mentally and physically prepared and we are in condition to compete.

"We are recently promoted after a five-year spell in the Segunda Division and that is a long time, therefore, our final objective has to be survival."

Paco Herrera will hand debuts to goalkeeper Javi Varas and defender Gustavo Cabral, while Argentina international Augusto Fernandez may also be involved after joining from Velez Sarsfield earlier in the week.