Espanyol midfielder Alex Fernandez has admitted that the Barcelona-based outfit are going through an "uncomfortable" period of the season.

Javier Aguirre's side are almost certainly safe from relegation this season, but have picked up just one point from their last five games, with that run of form dropping them to 12th in the table.

"This team always goes out onto the pitch to win," Fernandez told reporters.

"We need to approach our next match [against Valladolid] with a high intensity. We need to think of it as a final and work to make sure we at least get a point.

"We need to rediscover our will to win and our intensity. I'm sure it will come good. I hope the supporters stay calm. We don't think we are in a terrible situation, just an uncomfortable one."

Aguirre is widely expected to leave his position as manager at the end of the campaign to step back into international football.