Malaga vs Mallorca preview - Pellegrini keen to remain grounded

Posted Saturday, August 25, 2012 by PA

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is not about to get too far ahead of himself after his side's bright start to the season.

The financial uncertainty surrounding the Andalusian outfit and departure of some of their key players has made for an unsettling build-up to the new campaign for Pellegrini, who earlier this month denied he too would be leaving.

The mood around the club has brightened somewhat since the season got underway, with Malaga winning their first two fixtures - 1-0 at Celta Vigo in their Primera Division opener last Saturday and 2-0 at home against Panathinaikos on Wednesday in the opening leg of their Champions League play-off - and the Chilean has been encouraged by what he has seen.

That does not mean he is doing anything other than focusing on one game at a time, though, with his sights set only for the time being on Saturday's league clash with Real Mallorca at La Rosalenda.

"I'm very pleased with our performance and the end result (against Panathinaikos)," Pellegrini told www.malagacf.com.

"But in a situation like this, where we've still got the return leg to play in Greece, it's not wise to be too optimistic as this can lead to complacency.

"It's a match of 180 minutes, and up until now, we're doing very well.

"However, we're solely focused on Mallorca at the moment.

"On Sunday, when that match has finished, then we'll think about Tuesday's game (the second leg)."

Pellegrini expects a tough test from Mallorca, who got their own season underway with a 2-1 home victory over Espanyol last weekend.

"I do study our opponents," Pellegrini said.

"We'll be trying to impose our style of play in the match tomorrow, though Joaquin Caparros' team has a lot of character on the pitch.

"Mallorca are a good team with some good players, who are continuing their impressive performance from last season (when they finished eighth), which is why they are as tough a team to beat now as they were then.

"But if we play well, we'll get the three points."