Fifth-placed Malaga, who play at fellow European hopefuls Valencia, one place below them in sixth, on Saturday, have earned a UEFA ban from continental competition from next season due to delays in payments to creditors.
They are appealing the sanction at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and are confident they will be allowed to take up their place in the Europa League, Europe's second-tier club competition, or the elite Champions League if they manage to overhaul fourth-placed Real Sociedad.
As well as off-field problems, the players, whose wages were delayed amid doubts over the commitment of owner Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, have had to cope with the bitter disappointment of this month's Champions League exit at Borussia Dortmund.
"The entire team is at an excellent level, both physically and in football terms," he told a news conference on Wednesday.
"I hope that we can keep it up because this is the most important part of the season and will define what happens next year," added the Chilean.
"They have difficult games left as well against direct rivals so the fight for the fourth Champions League place is going to be a close one," he said.
"We'll take each game at a time knowing that the points available at our Rosaleda stadium must stay at home if we want to be in the mix for fourth."
In French coach Philippe Montanier's second term in charge, Sociedad have been the surprise of the season after a 21-game run with only one defeat - a 4-3 reverse at Real Madrid in January when captain Xabi Prieto scored a hat-trick.
"I don't think things could be going any better for us right now," defender Inigo Martinez said on Wedn
