Camacho made 199 official appearances for Málaga, putting the former midfielder among the 11 players with the most matches in the club’s history. He remains closely connected to events at La Rosaleda and used an exclusive interview with Radio MARCA Málaga during the international break to assess Juanfran Funes’ side.
The former Málaga midfielder has watched the team at various points this season and believes its youthful approach needs to be balanced by greater tactical maturity.
“I've seen matches in parts and some complete. I think it is a Málaga that has very young and daring players, who are playing as they did when they were in the Segunda,” Camacho said.
“The problem is that now they are in the Primera and perhaps that isn't enough to win matches.”
Camacho believes Málaga must become more comfortable changing their approach depending on the circumstances of a match, particularly when opponents make it difficult to play with the same attacking freedom.
“With a little more composure, structure and knowing how to read matches,” he said. “There are matches in which perhaps you don't have to play so offensively or with so much freedom and be a more tactical team.”
His message to the squad was simple: “Welcome to the Primera División.”
Camacho does not believe Málaga should be judged too harshly while their young players adjust to the demands of the division.
“They are very young and I think we shouldn't be so demanding of the team,” he said. “It is clear that youth goes through a period of adaptation and now we have to see whether that period lasts longer or less.”
The former midfielder also warned that the adjustment period cannot continue indefinitely.
“The longer it lasts, the more difficult it will be to recover everything you have lost during that period,” he said. “So, the sooner they react, the more they will be able to save.”
For Camacho, the solution does not mean abandoning the football that has brought the squad this far. Instead, Málaga must add another dimension to it.
“Football is unpredictable and the team that plays best doesn't always win,” he said. “Being young people with an enthusiastic fan base, I think that in the bad moments they have to think about what they have done and where they were a year ago.”
“Quality they have in abundance and, with what they play, they should be happy.”
But Camacho added one final warning: “It isn't all about the players' daring and confidence. You have to kill matches. Perhaps there will be matches that have to be less spectacular, but more effective.”