MADRID, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia said on Wednesday that his side were favorites in Thursday's UEFA Cup tie against Croatian side Hadjuk Split.

Aranzubia joined Deportivo at the end of last season after spending most of last year as substitute at Athletic Bilbao. Now he is looking to repay the faith coach Miguel Angel Lotina has shown in him by helping Deportivo into the group stage of the UEFA Cup.

"I have had a past with some good times and some that are not so good, the same as many players with eight or 10 years as professionals. Now I am starting a new and exciting period," said Aranzubia in Marca.

The keeper believed that the Croat side will prove to be complicated opponents.

"Of all of the rivals we could have been drawn against, Hadjuk are one of the toughest. In theory the Spanish league is stronger and we have to be favourites, but we have to show that on the pitch, " he said.