Espanyol vs Levante preview - Pochettino warns Espanyol must deliver

Posted Saturday, February 25, 2012 by PA

Mauricio Pochettino maintains Espanyol must continue to focus on the job in hand as they chase European qualification.

Espanyol head into the clash against Levante at Cornella-El Prat within touching distance of the top four, behind Athletic Bilbao only on goal difference.

However, Pochettino accepts with things so tight at the top and a trip to leaders Real Madrid next Sunday, his side must deliver a performance against Levante, who are only a point behind but back in seventh place.

"We have to keep on thinking only about our next match," he said.

"Work, humility and solidarity are essential to keep the team in the first positions.

"Everybody in the club works long hours, they have ability and they spend plenty of time trying to improve things.

"It is very nice to be in the first positions, but if you lose two matches on the run you can start falling down.

"I am always optimistic, but in all cases we must respect our rivals."

Goalkeeper Kiko Casilla feels the squad have plenty of belief.

He said: "We know if that we do things okay, we can achieve something historic.

"I am ambitious and I think that if we do things well we can be in the first positions (for the Champions League)."

Midfielder Joan Verdu hopes to have recovered from a back problem which ruled him out of last weekend's 1-1 draw with Getafe.

Levante, meanwhile, have fined Brazilian Pedro Botelho, on loan from parent club Arsenal, for what the Spanish club describe as a "disciplinary offence committed in Madrid last week".