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González: "We have to start well against Athletic Club"

The coach looks ahead to the final game of 2025

Manolo González and RCD Espanyol are enjoying a superb run in LaLiga, and round off 2025 in Bilbao with a game against Athletic Club. Ahead of the fixture, the coach talked to the media.

 

“Teams are great because they get used to winning and never get tired of it. The other teams, on the other hand, relax when that happens. I want us to always maintain this feeling because I think this mentality is good. I like the team to come away from games angry after a defeat and eager for the next match,” he coach commented.

 

González was asked if he was worried about his players receiving yellow cards that could lead to suspensions, to which he responded that he was "only focused on the game against Athletic Club" and was not thinking of anything beyond that.

 

Full of praise for Athletic Club, he analysed the opposition saying "They have one of the best coaches in LaLiga, a spectacular fanbase, and a very clear club philosophy. In that respect, they're a model to follow. From their midfield to their strikers, they're tremendous. Their goalkeeper is the first choice for the Spain national team. We have to play exceptionally well in order to win in Bilbao. It's a very difficult fixture, and if we don't start well, they could easily humiliate us."

 

"It would be wonderful to win at a stadium with the history of San Mamés. And getting five consecutive victories would be fantastic, but we can't afford any mistakes. It will be a very demanding match. We either approach it at 150 percent or we won't get anything positive from of it."

 

Looking back on this year, he noted that “it’s been the best year professionally for me, because I came to Espanyol the first time they offered me the job. We’re going to try to keep this going and maintain this momentum into 2026.”

 

"The best thing of all is seeing the connection between the team and the fans, seeing how engaged everyone has become with the team. The fans are cheering us on, and that’s essential for us.”