Getafe - Celta Vigo preview - Sanchez Flores focused on future

Posted Sunday, January 25, 2015 by PA

New Getafe coach Quique Sanchez Flores has told his relegation-batting side to draw a line under the first half of the season and re-focus their efforts on the remaining part, which he has described as a "different league of 10 or 12 teams".

Getafe reached the midway point of the campaign in 15th spot, just one point above the drop zone and without a league win since October.

However, Sanchez Flores, who returned for his second stint at Getafe earlier this month as Cosmin Contra's replacement, is determined to look forward and not back as the Madrid-based club attempt to extend their 10-year stay in the top flight.

He said ahead of Monday's visit of Celta Vigo: "The players look focused and are working very well. We've had a talk about separating the first half (of the season) from the second and we have to change our mentality, we cannot allow it to influence us.

"I'm trying to make sure the players have a clean mind each game because this is a different league, of 10 or 12 teams.

"We don't have time to dwell on defeats or victories. We have to look at each game as a new opportunity."

Getafe have picked up just four points from their last nine league games but the visit of freefalling Celta appears to offer them a reasonable chance to end their winless run.

Celta have taken only two points from a possible 27 since stunning Barcelona at the Nou Camp at the start of November, and during that run they have found the back of the net just once.

Sanchez Flores is warning his players not to read too much into that form, however, adding in AS: "Even though the results aren't all positive it doesn't mean they aren't working in the right direction.

"We're going to respect them as a team who work well, have good players, give off good feelings and we will have to be competitive to win."

Despite their poor run, Celta still started the weekend in 11th place and four points above Getafe.

And, like Sanchez Flores has with Getafe, Celta defender Sergi Gomez wants his side to forget about what has gone on in the past.

The Spain Under-21 international told a press conference: "The team is well aware of the situation we're going through, but we all believe we're capable of equalling or even improving what we've done in the first half of the season (21 points).

"We need to forget this bad run and think that we can beat Getafe."