Almeria vs Espanyol preview - Pochettino predicts Espanyol success

Posted Saturday, February 05, 2011 by PA

Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino believes his side could finish as high as third in the Primera Division this season.

Espanyol are currently in fifth place, eight points behind third-placed Villarreal, having lost at home by a single goal to the Yellow Submarine last weekend.

But while Pochettino believes it is impossible to catch either Barcelona or Real Madrid at the top of the table, the Argentinian coach says anything else is possible.

"Any of the teams up near the top can dream of finishing third," he said.

Espanyol currently have 37 points from their 21 games, and Pochettino believes his side will need another 35 just to qualify for the Champions League.

"It won't be at all easy to get another 35 points," he said. "We will try to win as many as possible, and that's what we will be working towards."

In the meantime, however, Pochettino is focused on Saturday's Primera Division clash away to Almeria.

"I won't talk about expectations now," he said. "I'm not making any long-term aims; I'm only thinking of Almeria."

Pochettino is missing Dani Osvaldo, Ivan de la Pena, Raul Baena and Felipe Mattioni through injury, while Aldo Duscher is suspended.

And with Didac Vila and Victor Ruiz recently sold to AC Milan and Napoli, respectively, Pochettino has been forced to call up youth team players Rui Fonte and Raul Rodriguez for Saturday's clash.

Almeria, meanwhile, will now concentrate solely on Primera Division survival after going out of the Copa del Rey at the semi-final stage on Wednesday night.

The Andalusians were thrashed 3-0 at home by a second-string Barcelona side, having previously lost the first leg 5-0 at the Nou Camp.

"We had a good run in the cup, but that's over now and we are fully focused on staying up - starting against Espanyol," coach Jose Luis Oltra said.

Having rested several of his first-team regulars against Barca, Oltra will pick his strongest possible line-up for the game against Espanyol.