Preview
On the surface there is not much to separate Atletico Madrid and
Deportivo La Coruna ahead of Sunday's clash - but visiting coach
Javier Irureta is wary of the hosts.
Both teams have 22 points, with Atletico seventh and Deportivo
eighth, both are likely to be in Europe next year - and yet both
are struggling to live up to expectations.
But in highlighting Atletico's strengths before Sunday's clash in
the Vicente Calderon, Irureta perhaps unintentionally reveals the
very weaknesses currently existing in his own misfiring side.
``Atletico are a much harder team to play against this year, than
they were last season, and they have made some astute signings
during the summer,'' Irureta told sports daily AS.
``The emergence of Luis Perea in defence has been a particular
surprise for me, and they have a good keeper now in Leo Franco, and
Salva up front, they have done well. Combined with those from last
year they have a good team.
``It is clear that Cesar Ferrando has imposed his style on the club
and they play a much simpler, organised game, and work hard as a
unit.
``They now build from the back and their strongest weapon is their
defence. It is something Ferrando has obviously worked hard on in
training. They are a well-balanced side, play as a team, and are
difficult to break down.''
This appears to be in stark contrast to his own side who seem to be
falling apart at present. They have crashed out of the Champions
League, the UEFA cup, the Copa Del Rey and had three consecutive
draws in the league.
With an ageing squad and few replacements to freshen things up,
Depor have started leaking goals at an alarming rate, with only
four other teams having conceded more than Depor's 21 goals in 15
La Liga games. And the five conceded to Monaco last week still
hurt.
``We have to start defending better and making ourselves harder to
beat,'' Irureta added. ``I am not advocating my players to go out
and give away a lot of fouls, but it is significant that against
Monaco last week we only conceded eight and they had 20.
``I don't want people to think we are soft touch. It is difficult
to change some players. Some you have to hold back, but others need
pushing into being more aggressive.''
Irureta will probably be without the injured striker Marcos Changui
for Sunday but Mauro Silva, Diego Tristan, Raul Molina and Albert
Luque will all be available after recovering from knocks.
Atletico boss Ferrando looks to have a full squad to chose from,
with playmaker Ariel Ibagaza expected to start his first game for
some weeks, and Marcelo Sosa back from suspension.
Defender Sergi Barjuan has reiterated the message that seems to be
issued every week now, that Atletico have got to go in search of
goals, and have to believe in their abilities.
``The last four games of this half of the season are vital for us
to know where we really sit in the table,'' said Sergi.
``I don't believe we are suffering from a mental problem when it
comes to scoring. It is simply that we lack a little conviction in
front of goal. In this half of the season it has cost us a
lot.
``Like last week's 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, opponents are
having very few glimpses of goal but making them count. We are
creating chances but failing.''