saurabh
08-04-2006, 12:25 PM
http://images.skysports.com/images/playerpics05_06/Spain/AtleticoMadrid/murcia_pep.jpg
Atletico Madrid coach Pepe Murcia has denied that he has been told that he will only stay in the summer if the team qualify for Europe at the end of the season.
With rumours in Spain suggesting that the club are looking to attract Osasuna trainer Javier Aguirre to take over, Murcia defended his position and dismissed stories that he must make it into the Uefa Cup.
"Who demands that I do that?," he said. "Nobody has said to my that my obligation is to play in Europe.
"My obligation is to concentrate on winning at Espanyol on Sunday.
"I do not know what the president thinks, but the most important thing is to beat Espanyol. I do not have anything special to say, just to repeat what I said a few months ago that I am as permanent or temporary as any other coach.
"I have not spoken to the president about this and I do not know his opinion. I do believe that he wants to see that the team can play and finish as high as possible."
Murcia took over from Carlos Bianchi in January and lifted the club into the top half of the table after a six-game winning run.
The string of victories led many to believe that he would be offered the post
permanently at the end of the campaign, but doubts have been raised after Atletico have fallen away from the European places after failing to win in their last four matches.
"These runs happen, nevertheless we are the second best team in the second half of the season because we have overtaken Barcelona," Murcia explained.
"We have scored the most and conceded the least.
"I think that everything about Atletico is dramatised too much. We have achieved our first aim which was survival and, just as we managed to win six consecutive games, now we can win at least three more.
"Celta Vigo were in a bad run of form but they recovered, so why can't we?"
Atletico Madrid coach Pepe Murcia has denied that he has been told that he will only stay in the summer if the team qualify for Europe at the end of the season.
With rumours in Spain suggesting that the club are looking to attract Osasuna trainer Javier Aguirre to take over, Murcia defended his position and dismissed stories that he must make it into the Uefa Cup.
"Who demands that I do that?," he said. "Nobody has said to my that my obligation is to play in Europe.
"My obligation is to concentrate on winning at Espanyol on Sunday.
"I do not know what the president thinks, but the most important thing is to beat Espanyol. I do not have anything special to say, just to repeat what I said a few months ago that I am as permanent or temporary as any other coach.
"I have not spoken to the president about this and I do not know his opinion. I do believe that he wants to see that the team can play and finish as high as possible."
Murcia took over from Carlos Bianchi in January and lifted the club into the top half of the table after a six-game winning run.
The string of victories led many to believe that he would be offered the post
permanently at the end of the campaign, but doubts have been raised after Atletico have fallen away from the European places after failing to win in their last four matches.
"These runs happen, nevertheless we are the second best team in the second half of the season because we have overtaken Barcelona," Murcia explained.
"We have scored the most and conceded the least.
"I think that everything about Atletico is dramatised too much. We have achieved our first aim which was survival and, just as we managed to win six consecutive games, now we can win at least three more.
"Celta Vigo were in a bad run of form but they recovered, so why can't we?"