Malaga vs Elche preview - Schuster has Duda's backing

Posted Friday, May 02, 2014 by PA

Bernd Schuster will hope to go another step nearer to securing his future as Malaga boss when his side take on relegation-threatened Elche in the Primera Division on Saturday.

Schuster recently revealed a clause in his contract which states it will be automatically renewed providing Malaga finish 10th or higher in the table, and they currently sit 13th with three games to play.

A disappointing 1-0 defeat at Getafe last week hit Schuster's hopes but Portuguese midfielder Duda believes the German is still the man for the job.

Duda told a press conference: "The coach came here with a goal and he achieved it. At first things didn't go as well as we expected but now we have succeeded.

"After we suffered, we got the results we needed through hard work and now we have to finish the job. We are happy and we are showing that on the field."

Fran Escriba's Elche go into the the game just three points above the relegation zone after just one win in their last nine league games.

But Escriba will hope his side received a confidence boost from last week's 1-1 home draw with Levante which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Escriba said: "We have gone a long time without winning away from home but the players believe they can get something.

"The team is aware of their target and of course there is some anxiety. We cannot know if it is going to turn out badly, but all we can think about is winning."