Football Season Guide

Malaga's summer has been a tough one, marked by an exodus of talent. So many of the players who were able to put together an impressive end to the 2016/17 season have left, often with the club helpless to stop them. Sandro Ramirez and Pablo Fornals had their release clauses activated and marched on their way while the Andalusian institution have also lost talents like Ignacio Camacho, Charles, Diego Llorente and Martin Demichelis for various other reasons such as expiring contracts, ends of loan deals and retirement. Also leaving the club have been the two best goalkeepers Malaga had on their books - Cameroon and Mexico internationals Carlos Kameni and Guillermo Ochoa. All in all, it has been a transfer window containing setback after setback, while there have also been difficulties in signing new players which has frustrated coach Michel. Borja Baston has been the highlight signing as he joins after a difficult year iat Swansea but just one year removed from his 19-goal Eibar season. Then 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Emanuel Cecchini has arrived to the tune of several positive scouting reports whilst Cenk Gonen and Roberto Jimenez have come in to fill the goalkeeping spaces. Overall, there is a sense that the squad is weaker now than it was on the final day of last season though. One reassuring aspect is that Malaga have an experienced and talented coach with Michel. He joined towards the end of last season to steer the team away from relegation and will continue at the helm which is encouraging given that they won six of the twelve matches he took charge of last year. There is, however, only so much he can do and replacing Sandro – who led the line so well in Michel's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation – is a must if this is to be a good year. The hope is that Baston can get back to scoring ways in La Liga, but that is far from guaranteed.