With his job on the line Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino couldn't have asked for a harder fixture than on-fire Atletico Madrid.
The Periquitos are second bottom with just one point from their first five games.
“If the club has issues with my role or my way of doing things then it is not going to be a problem, it can be solved in two minutes, beyond any contract that has been signed,” said the beleaguered Argentine.
“When the results do not come, the first one to be questioned is the Coach, and I assume responsibility. But it is a matter of time. I have confidence in my players and they in me.”
Atletico, led by Pochettino's former international teammate Diego Simeone, are 12 points better off, and second only to Barcelona after another stunning win, 4-2 over Real Betis in midweek.
“We carried the game to Betis so they could not exploit their speed and the goals they scored were fortunate,” declared Simeone. “Perhaps we were a bit anxious before we got the fourth but on chances made we deserved to win the game.”
