Espanyol vs Athletic Bilbao preview - Espanyol call on new boys

Posted Sunday, September 11, 2011 by PA

Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino has called up new signings Walter Pandiani, Ndri Romaric and Vladimir Weiss for their home clash with Athletic Bilbao as they look to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season.

The Barcelona-based club lost their talismanic striker Pablo Osvaldo to Roma during the transfer window and missed him badly as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Real Mallorca in their opening league match.

However, since that loss, Pochettino has bolstered his squad with the signings of Pandiani, Romaric and Weiss just before the transfer deadline and all three have been included in an 18-man party.

Pochettino iss in optimistic mood ahead of the fixture, but admits a victory is important.

"Good results always give confidence, reaffirm your ideas and your work. They give this point of credibility that you always need and ease the doubts," he said.

"The team has to take a step forward, we must revert this situation. In the dressing room I see high hopes and a lot of desire."

Regarding the three newcomers, Pochettino said they have been training well but are unlikely all to be involved from the start tomorrow.

He said: "I have been pleasantly surprised with Pandiani's fitness and his integration into the group, Romaric is a box-to-box player, has good technical ability and is very powerful and Weiss is competing for a place in the side with his pace and aggression."

Athletic have not had the ideal start to their campaign either, being held 1-1 at home by top-flight newcomers Rayo Vallecano in their first league match and drawing 0-0 in the Europa League play-offs at home to a Trabzonspor side that played a man down for 84 minutes.

Athletic subsequently progressed through to the group stages of the competition after Trabzonspor were promoted into the Champions League.

It may not have been the best of starts under new coach Marcelo Bielsa, but Athletic defender Mikel San Jose believes a win tomorrow would make things look very different.

He said: "The first results have planted a seed of doubt but not amongst the players. We know things are going well, but we need results and if we win at the Cornella it will make the draw against Rayo seem not as bad."