Cordoba C.F. vs Real Sociedad preview - Prieto backs Arrasate

Posted Saturday, October 25, 2014 by PA

Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto has offered his backing to beleaguered coach Jagoba Arrasate and called on the club to keep their faith in him.

With Albert Ferrer and Jose Luis Mendilibar becoming the first coaches to have been sacked this season after they were booted out by Cordoba and Levante respectively, Arrasate is the favourite to be the next Primera Division coach to lose his job,

La Real have only won one of their eight league games this season and the tactician has been put under even further pressure after Monday's 2-1 defeat to Getafe, who scored both their goals in stoppage time to take the three points.

However, La Real veteran Prieto does not believe a change in coach is the answer to his team's problems.

"We want the team to start winning but we don't want any changes," he told a press conference, quoted in Marca.

"It is not just the coach who should be blamed, the players are just as responsible, if not more responsible."

Saturday's trip to Cordoba is being tipped by several commentators as being Arrasate's last chance to keep his job, but Prieto believes it could be a turning point for the Basques.

"We hope that on Saturday we can get the win and bring this run to an end," he said.

"We haven't forgotten how to play football, it's just harder for us to do so in the current climate."

The game at the Nuevo Arcangel stadium is Miroslav Djukic's first game in charge of Cordoba since he was named the successor to Ferrer.

The former Real Valladolid and Valencia coach revealed he is pleased with what he has seen of his new team.

"The first sensations I have are very positive, I'm happy with the group of players and the work they are doing," he told a press conference, quoted in Marca.

The Serbian also repeated the message he gave during his unveiling earlier in the week, which was to "relieve the players of anxiety" at being bottom of the league.

"We need to stay calm and work and not get anxious," he added.

"The Cordoba players need to play and be prepared for what is to come because they are going to suffer this season, everyone here knows that, and we are going to fight to stay up, but we have to know to deal with the demands of the situation."

Djukic has a full squad to choose from with the exception of full-back Jose Angel Crespo, while Arraste is still without injured trio Gorka Elustondo, Geronimo Rulli and Alberto de La Bella.