Espanyol Coach Quique Sanchez Flores maintains that qualifying for next season’s Europa League is his side’s ambition for the season.
The Catalans currently sit ninth in the table – three places and nine points off sixth-placed Villarreal – but the former Watford boss insists his side can compete ahead of the clash with Las Palmas on Friday night.
“We are taking each match as it comes and every point is one closer to our objective of European football,” Flores told his press conference.
“We won’t give up in this objective, even if at times it seems less likely for us than for other team but we must remain motivated and keep pushing.
“It is important not to let an illusion consume you but we are confident in our own ability and to qualify for Europe would be a fantastic achievement and setting the bar any lower would do ourselves an injustice.
“We have worked hard to ensure we do not repeat the careless mistakes we have in recent weeks, as now it is more important to get results than ever.
“I believe we are now direct rivals of Villarreal and of Celta Vigo, they are clubs with some fantastic recent achievements and whilst we have some limitations that is our goal – to compete at that level.”
