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.
Barney Corkhill
