Paciencia targets La Liga survival for Deportivo

New Deportivo La Coruna head coach Domingos Paciencia has set his sights on keeping the struggling club in La Liga.

Paciencia was unveiled as the new man in charge of Deportivo on Monday, with the club currently anchored to the bottom of the table.

Deportivo have won just twice in 17 matches this season but they are just three points away from safety, which is Paciencia’s aim for the remainder of the campaign.

“For me this is an important moment because I finally got to come here,” said Paciencia, who nearly ended up at Deportivo as a player in his 14-year career that was largely spent at Porto.

“I had the chance a few years ago as a player and now destiny brought me here. I’m excited to take the chance and to try what the board, fans and players want.

“Our goal is no other than improving what has been already done so we can stay in the first division one more year.”

Paciencia has stints with Porto B, Uniao Leiria, Academica, Braga and Sporting Lisbon under his belt in Portugal but the move to Spain will present the 43-year-old with a new environment and a new challenge.

His first match in charge of the side will not be easy, with Deportivo – who have not won in their past eight matches – to host the fourth-placed Malaga.

And although Paciencia admits he does not have much time to work with the players before La Liga resumes, he is well-aware of the capabilities of his squad.

“I will not have problems because I already know the most used players, the whole squad,” he said.

“So it won’t be a problem. But yeah, it’s true that we are short in time to prepare our next game against a great team like Malaga.”