Real Betis vs Espanyol preview - Calderon eyeing success

Posted Sunday, February 02, 2014 by PA

New Real Betis coach Gabriel Calderon remains hopeful he can turn the club's fortunes around as he prepares for his first home game in charge of the rock-bottom Verdiblancos.

The Seville club are 10 points away from safety and still without a league win since the end of September as the prepare to play host to Espanyol on Sunday.

After the sacking of Pepe Mel and then Juan Carlos Garrido, the club have had more coaches this season than league wins, and Calderon's first game in the hotseat at Celta Vigo brought little change, with Betis succumbing to a 4-2 defeat.

But the Argentinian coach's enthusiasm about taking charge of the team for the first time at the Benito Villamarin stadium has not been dampened, despite the difficult circumstances.

"I've waited 27 years for this moment, dreaming about returning to the Villamarin," the former Betis player said.

"I know that we are going to give everything. I accepted this challenge because I am a fighter and a winner and I know I'm going to get the team playing how the fans want them to."

The coach will have to do without Cedrick and Nono, both suspended, plus injured forward Alvaro Vadillo, but new signing Alfred N'Diaye could make his debut after joining on loan from Sunderland until the end of the season.

Espanyol, ninth in the Primera Division table and unbeaten in their last two league games, will be without left-back Joan Capdevila, while forward Thievy Bifouma joined West Bromwich Albion on loan on the final day of the January transfer window.

Coach Javier Aguirre warned that Betis will be desperate to win and therefore could prove tough opponents.

"Now they are doubly dangerous, they are wounded and will go out with their knuckles sharpened - but so will we," he told a press conference.

"They will go all out because they are playing for their lives, and we'll have to match their enthusiasm."