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Marcelino: “We have to focus on LaLiga”

Marcelino: “We have to focus on LaLiga”

After winning the Supercopa and progressing in the Copa del Rey, the gaffer wants to start moving up the LaLiga Santander table

Athletic Club manager Marcelino García Toral insisted his players must put last week’s achievements in the past and concentrate on taking each game as it comes.

The Lions are back in LaLiga action on Monday night, playing against Getafe CF at San Mamés (21:00 CET). It’s Athletic’s first LaLiga fixture since facing FC Barcelona on January 6.

Since then the Rojiblancos have beat Real Madrid and Barça to win the Supercopa as well as overcoming a spirited UD Ibiza in their Copa Del Rey round-of-32 clash last Thursday.

“Now we have to focus on LaLiga,” Marcelino said at his pre-match press conference in Lezama. “We want to climb up the table because at the moment we’re in a position which doesn’t reflect our ability.

“We must win matches in this competition and we need to beat Getafe.”

As for Monday’s opponents, Marcelino warned Getafe would put up a tough fight, citing their record since being re-promoted to LaLiga in 2017-18.

“Getafe have a very clear identity, we know what we’re going up against,” Marcelino added. “It’s a team that concedes very few goals and that forces you to be creative.

“We have to defend very well and try not to let them score.

“We’re playing at our home and we must make ourselves hard to defeat.”

Athletic’s manager stated that while the Lions would work on small details ahead of the fixture, there won’t be any radical changes to the overall set-up in the face of Getafe’s style.

“We’re not going to be making changes every week,” he added. “Where we’re strong, we have to be stronger still and where we’re less strong, we have to try and improve.”