Manolo Jiménez: "I come here with the intention of making this team great"

Manolo Jiménez said "AEK Athens will always have a place in my heart and it was a tough decision to leave them and come back to Spain. I am grateful to UD Las Palmas for putting their faith in me as a trainer. I am really excited about coming here and making this historic team great again. Together we can all come together and take the team back up to the first division, match by match".

"We need to accept where we are now and not think about the past. UD Las Palmas will be a tough side to beat in the Liga 1,2,3", the new manager underlined. "UD Las Palmas has to be a club with ambition. I am a trainer that likes a 1-4-4-2 formation, but on occasions I have played with three central defenders. A trainer should always know what is best for his team", he pointed out.

Manolo Jiménez highlighted the great efforts made by Sergio Araujo at AEK Athens, "not just on the pitch. Araujo has spoken highly of UD Las Palmas and I now want to feel it for myself".

With reference to new contracts for players such as David García, Momo and Javi Castellano, Jiménez said "at UD Las Palmas the youth players will get their chance. I believe greatly in bringing in youth team players. They are important players who I will treat with care. Together with the technical secretary we will look for the best outcome for UD Las Palmas".

In his presentation, technical secretary Toni Otero stated that Manolo Jiménez "has gone to great lengths to become part of the family at UD Las Palmas. He is a leading figure in Spanish football. On behalf of the president we hope he has a wonderful year, and that his successes will be the successes of UD Las Palmas".