Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez concedes survival is their sole target this season.
After victory over Liverpool on Monday, the Latics were thrashed by Bolton Wanderers yesterday.
Martinez said: "I always believed the toughest challenge was the first one, to stay in the Premier League after we lost all the important players we had here in the past and brought in the quality we have.
"We now have younger players from other leagues who haven't reached their peak yet because financially we can't compete with other teams. I am extremely excited about the future.
"I know the next six or seven weeks are going to dictate that because the first aim is going to be the hardest.
"But if we don't get into Europe in the next three years I'll see it as a failure."