Espanyol head coach Manolo González spoke to the media ahead of his side’s clash with Real Madrid, addressing his team’s mentality, the challenge ahead, and key tactical priorities.
The state of the dressing room
“The dressing room is eager to win and play a good match. To compete at their best, as they have been doing even though the results haven’t been there. We know it will be a long match against a demanding opponent, but perhaps this is the ideal day for Real Madrid to come.”
Nothing at stake?
“I’ve played in matches where the points didn’t
matter, and once the game starts, everyone wants to win. Madrid isn’t going to come here for a stroll, especially not with the badge they wear on their shirts. It will be a tough match, but we’re capable of beating them. We did it last year. But we have to be fully focused for the full 90 minutes.”
Arbeloa
“Arbeloa? It’s complicated when you take over a team mid-season. When you haven’t started with the team, it’s not easy, even if they have very good players. Plus, these are teams with history, which demands you give your best. When things aren’t going well, you’re more exposed than in other places.”
How to approach the game
“We’re going to compete at our best, knowing that keeping a clean sheet is important and that we have to create scoring opportunities. We’ve managed to recover some defensive solidity since the Betis game. We have to try to be patient in the final third.”
