Espanyol prepares for a wounded Atlético
Espanyol’s coach, Manolo González, has expressed his confidence in the ‘perico’ team ahead of the crucial match against Atlético de Madrid. Despite acknowledging the potential of their rival, González assures that his team fears no one and feels capable of securing victory at home.
The coach downplays the recent refereeing scandal suffered by Espanyol, focusing on maintaining the concentration of his players in the face of any adversity. ‘We hope it doesn’t happen again.
My job with the players has been to remove that pressure from their heads (due to fear of bad refereeing),’ Manolo explained. González downplays the importance of Atlético’s recent results, arguing that both a victory and a defeat make them equally dangerous.
He highlights the need to adapt to the opponent’s game and exploit their weaknesses, trusting in Espanyol’s ability to compete at the highest level. In addition, he values the unconditional support of the fans, considering it a key factor in turning the stadium into a fortress.
‘The fans are the extra player we have compared to the rival,’ he stated. The coach expects a different game from the first leg and praises Diego Simeone’s career, recognizing his great quality as a coach.
González is confident that, if his team enters the match with the right attitude, they will have a chance to defeat Atlético and bring joy to the ‘perica’ fans. ‘What worries me most is how we enter the match, if we do it as we should, we have options to beat the rival and that the people of Espanyol can go home happy.’
