Pochettino vows to make Espanyol fans proud

New RCD Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino could not have asked for a tougher introduction to management as just a day after his appointment, the 36-year-old leads his team in a Copa del Rey quarter-final against city rivals FC Barcelona.

Relegation struggle
It has been a turbulent season at the Olímpico de Montjuic, with summer appointment Bartolomé Márquez replaced in December by José Manuel Esnal, who in turn was relieved on his duties on Tuesday after failing to lift Espanyol from the Liga relegation zone. Former defender Pochettino now has a five-point gap to make up to escape the bottom three, but before that the former Argentinian international, a club favourite during two playing spells with Espanyol, has the small matter of the first leg against Barcelona, whose form could not be more starkly contrasting with their struggling neighbours.

Victory possible
Barça coach Josep Guardiola, of course, has made the step up from playing hero to winning coach and Pochettino, aiming to make a similar transition, sees tonight's encounter as a chance for his team to turn their season. "[The game] is fundamental for us and we must prove that something has changed," he said. "In that respect we have to go out there hungry and with confidence and give the fans a performance they can be proud of. Like all the supporters here I also want to beat Barcelona and I'm convinced we can to that."

Answering call
The identification with the fans is something Pochettino feels strongly having played for Espanyol between 1994 and 2000 and again for two years before his 2006 retirement. "I'm very happy to have returned to what has always been my home," he said. "I know the situation the team is currently in; I know how everyone who loves this club feels at the moment. I always said that whenever this team needed me I would answer the call. I responded in 2004 and now I'm convinced I can do my bit for the club. I'm just another 'Perico' who is suffering because of the results."

Alves wary
Indeed, Espanyol's last league win was on 2 November, while Barcelona's 5-0 defeat of RC Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday allowed them to set a record of 50 points for the first half of the season. Not that defender Daniel Alves is taking anything for granted before Barcelona's last scheduled visit to the Olímpico de Montjuic before Espanyol move to a new ground next season. "We will very much have to be on our guard as they are not going to hand us anything on a plate," said Alves, whose team are at home in the return next week, while in tonight's other first leg, holders Valencia CF welcome Sevilla FC. On Thursday Athletic Club Bilbao play Real Sporting de Gijón and RCD Mallorca face Real Betis Balompié.