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Saturday, September 09, 2006


Picture Manzano - urged side to go for win

MANZANO PLEA TO MALLORCA

Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano has urged his team to go for their first win of the season on Sunday when Deportivo La Coruna are the visitors to the Son Moix stadium.

The Balearic islanders were held 1-1 at Recreativo Huelva in their opening match of the campaign and, after two consecutive seasons where they have diced with relegation, Manzano is determined to pick up the points early in the season and keep them away from the danger zone.

Manzano has urged the crowd to get behind his team against high-flying Deportivo who occupied third spot after the first week of the season.

"I urge the supporters to get behind the team in the same way as they did towards the end of last season," Manzano told a press conference on Friday.

"Our stadium ought to be a fortress where we must always expect to take maximum points as it is very difficult to win games away from home.

"The supporters can play a fundamental role in making that happen."

Manzano has named an 18-man squad for the first home match of the season but has warned all of his players that none of them can take a starting berth for granted.

"Everyone of the 18 players I have called on for this match must prepare for it as if they are going to start it," said Manzano.

Venezuelan Juan Arango and Serbia international Branko Jankovic are both expected to play for Mallorca. Hector Berenguel is ruled out through injury but defender Nunes is likely to play after missing the Recreativo game through injury with Ivan Ramis the man likely to lose out.

Deportivo coach Joaquin Caparros had a worry about central defender Iago who injured an ankle in midweek but the stopper was able to train normally on Friday and is available for selection on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Dudu Aouate is available after playing for Israel in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign while Caparros may rest Jonathan De Guzman who has had some tiring flights to and from Canada for their international with Jamaica.

With Juanma back in action after two months on the sidelines with a groin injury, the pieces are starting to come together for Caparros.

Deportivo made an excellent start to the season and lie in third place after beating big-spending Real Zaragoza 3-2 in their opener.

Striker Riki is excited at the potential of the Galician club but vowed a no-risk approach in the Balearics.

"The coach wants a compact team that is competitive and which will be difficult to beat," Riki told Marca.

"It's clear that away from home we will have to rely on our basic game and maybe play on the counter-attack because we are very fast and dangerous.

"That could be our most potent weapon."

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