Jimenez: Zaragoza require reinforcements
Reuters - Sunday 01 January 2012, 22:11
Real Zaragoza's new coach
Manolo Jimenez wants the cash-strapped club to find the money to
buy players in the January transfer window as he begins the task
of helping La Liga's bottom side avoid relegation.
"Of course, I have asked for signings," the former Sevilla
boss said at his first news conference since his appointment on
Saturday to replace the sacked Javier Aguirre.
"There are gaps in the team," Jimenez said, adding that he
was aware of the economic woes of the heavily-indebted Aragonese
club, who are one of several top-flight sides in administration.
"We need a second goalkeeper, defenders because we are
letting in a lot of goals, too many of those from set pieces,
something on the creative side and the odd forward," he said.
"I am excited about this new task of getting Real Zaragoza
off the bottom, which demands that we all pull in the same
direction."
Former Mexico boss Aguirre was appointed in November 2010
and helped Zaragoza avoid relegation last season.
After 16 of 38 matches this term they are five points adrift
of the safety zone having picked up just 10 points and the board
decided on Thursday "an urgent change of course" was needed.
Jimenez, 47, coached Sevilla from 2007-10 and also played
for the Andalusian side.
He was sacked by Sevilla in March 2010 and moved to Greece,
where he led AEK Athens to third place in the Super League and
victory in the Greek Cup.