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González: "I want us to control games this season"

The coach holds a pre-match press conference before the game against Levante UD

Ahead of the season opener asgainst Levante UD on Sunday, RCD Espanyol coach Manolo González gave his first press conference to preview the encounter.

“We’re in good shape after preseason. What we're lacking is for the players to get into rhythm and the habit of competition. That’s normal at this stage.”

The coach explained that “I want us to control games this season. We’ve been a team based on quick attacks, and now we want to attack with more patience to reduce the energy spent running without the ball.”

For González, the objective for this new season “is to improve on last year’s position. As I’ve said many times, the main priority is staying up and remaining ambitious. There have been several teams that seemed safe, but who ended up being relegated on the final matchday. When you lose respect for the competition, you can get hurt. You have to be aware of the reality of LaLiga.”

The coach, who will be starting his third season in the Espanyol dugout in the Primera División, acknowledged that he is "living a dream" at the RCDE Stadium.

"I feel privileged; it's a luxury to be in charge of this team, but I have to continue to work like an animal," he concluded by saying.