Funes finally gets his defensive 'signings' without troubling the transfer budget
Málaga boss Funes is seeing his January plan come together as key defenders return from injury, with Víctor García and Dani Sánchez nearing full fitness.
Málaga manager Funes is looking proper chuffed as his winter transfer strategy unfolds without spending a single euro on new defenders.
The gaffer made it crystal clear to sporting director Loren Juarros that signing a new left-back wasn’t necessary in January, insisting the solutions were already at La Rosaleda. Turns out the bloke wasn’t having a bubble - he was spot on.
The walking wounded return
After Víctor García rejoined training with the squad late last week, Thursday brought more positive news for Funes and his coaching staff. Dani Sánchez has now begun gradually integrating back into team sessions, giving the manager the defensive reinforcements he’d been banking on.
Sánchez is in the final stages of recovery from a troublesome calf muscle injury in his right leg that’s kept him sidelined for nearly two months. Whether he’ll be available for the upcoming fixture against Real Sociedad B on Monday, February 16th at Anoeta remains uncertain, depending on his progress in the coming training sessions.
The smart money suggests neither defender will be ready for Monday’s match, but their return to training represents a significant boost for Málaga’s defensive options.
Rafita: The unexpected solution
During this injury crisis, Málaga have unearthed an unlikely hero at left-back who’s delivered consistently impressive performances. Rafita, raised in Málaga’s Axarquía region, has stepped up brilliantly when called upon.
The local lad is now positioning himself as the potential first-choice left-back, even with his teammates returning to fitness. The stats don’t lie - with Rafita in that position, Málaga have only tasted defeat once, at Anduva.
Curiously enough, Funes initially sent the academy graduate back to the reserve team when he first took charge. Before the injuries to García and Sánchez, Rafita had featured against La Unión, Xerez, Yeclano, Minera, and Puente Genil.