MX23RW : Friday, March 29 02:06:48| >> :600:813247:813247:

Mixu Paatelainen eyes Dundee United survival

New Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen insists that avoiding relegation is his number one priority for the rest of the season.

New Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen has insisted that staying in the Scottish Premiership is his number one priority for the rest of the season.

The 48-year-old was appointed at Tannadice Park earlier today with the club sitting bottom of the table having picked up just one win and five points from their opening 10 games.

Paatelainen, who also spent time with United during his playing days, outlined his intention to improve both the attitude and defensive record of his squad, but believes that anything beyond a relegation battle this season would be a "bonus".

"Our priority this season is to avoid a relegation battle. It won't be easy, we can't kid ourselves on. This is a wonderful club, a big club, a great support, but nobody has a divine right to be in the top six and challenge for European places as Dundee United have done before," he told the club's official website.

"We have to make sure everyone looks in the mirror and at how hard we are working to turn things round. Then, if we manage to avoid that relegation battle, then any position we make as we climb up the table is a bonus. We need to have a real desire to work hard; be aggressive; have a real dig; do the hard work before the finesse will shine on top of that. That's the change I want to see straight away because that's mental, that's attitude.

"Defensively we must be better: so far this season we have conceded two goals a game on average. We want to pass the ball on the deck systematically and create chances but these tactical things don't come straight away. That takes time but the mental side of it can change straight away."

Paatelainen's first match at the helm will come this Sunday when his side host Hearts.

ID:252399: cacheID:252399:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2641:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Finland's national team's head coach Mixu Paatelainen is pictured prior to the UEFA 2016 European Championship qualifying round Group F football match Hungary vs Finland at the Groupama Arena stadium in Budapest on November 14, 2014
Read Next:
Paatelainen appointed Dundee United boss
>
Read more about Mixu Paatelainen Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Dundee UnitedDundee Utd30178557213659
2Raith Rovers29177549361358
3Partick ThistlePartick30121085649746
4AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians28116113332139
5Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline30108123439-538
6Greenock MortonMorton29107123534137
7Queen's ParkQueen's Park3099124348-536
8Ayr UnitedAyr29105144153-1235
9Inverness Caledonian ThistleInverness30711123435-132
10Arbroath2965183065-3523


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!