No soft touch
Racing Santander's sought after coach says he will only move to a bigger club on his own terms.
Last updated: 30th April 2008
Marcelino: single-minded
"I think it would be dishonest to say we don't aspire to work at one of the biggest clubs in Spain, but it's not about getting the chance at all costs."
Marcelino
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Real Madrid may be on the verge of retaining their title in Bernd Schuster's first year, but the German is not the only managerial success story in La Liga this season.
Few would have even considered Racing Santander as potential challengers for a Champions League place back in August - not even the club's bosses.
But that is just what they have become under impressive coach Marcelino, who rejected the overtures of Getafe and Real Betis last summer in favour of the unfashionable Cantabrian club.
Given free reign and a modest set of targets - to avoid relegation and have a decent cup run - the 42-year-old has hauled Racing to within two points of the top four with four games remaining, and his heroics have attracted admiring glances from Valencia.
But, as he told Revista de la Liga, any club coveting Marcelino and his staff had better be prepared to deliver what he demands.
"I think it would be dishonest to say we don't aspire to work at one of the biggest clubs in Spain," he said. "We don't know when it may happen - one, two or three years or maybe never.
"It's safe to say it is a dream and an ambition but not an obsession. It's not about getting the chance at all costs.
"Any club will have to meet a certain series of requirements. If they are met and belief is placed in us, we would like to step up and repay faith in our ability."
So what is the magic Marcelino formula? Not rocket science, as it turns out.
He said: "The truth is that if you were here you would not know we were in the situation we are in. We continue with our day-to-day work.
"It was our good start that allowed us to work to this. We got into that rhythm of training, match, training, match and became very consistent.
"We have not had too many ups and downs despite the fact that we have some key injuries.
"It has been hard work day-to-day that has got us this far this season. I am proud to be involved with such a great group of players who are wonderul professionals."
