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González: "We need to regain confidence"
The coach gives his pre-match press conference for the game against Celta Vigo
Manolo González addressed the media in the lead-up to the match against Celta Vigo, and explained the importance of RCD Espanyol not getting into a negative mindset after recent results.
“We need to stay calm and regain the confidence we had before Christmas. I've already said that bad runs happen, but they're not justifiable. We'll grow again from a place of calm. We're training well and we hope to have a good match this Saturday. Bad runs can be overcome by keeping a cool head, staying cool-headed, and being positive,” he stated.
The Espanyol coach recognised that results have been influenced by various circumstances.
“Atletico Madrid beat Betis 5-0. A few days later, in LaLiga, they lost 1-0 at home to Betis, and then in the last few hours they beat Barcelona 4-0. That's the way this sport is. There's no mathematical formula that is followed. When you lose, people also use injuries and fitness as an excuse, and that's a myth. The fitness coach has to try to prevent muscle injuries, but ensuring the team train at the right pace is my responsibility.”
Speaking about Celta Vigo, he noted that they will be “a tough, complicated side to face. They've done many things very well in recent years. They've managed to get the fans invested in the team and are doing excellent work with their youth system. Their coach has been courageous in making it happen. They play well and are a well-organised team.”
He also emphasised the importance of the fans' support at this stage of the season.
“That unity is what has allowed us to be in the top flight, and I'm sure it will continue to help us climb as high up the table as possible. We are the first to criticise ourselves, and we haven't forgotten that we've grown thanks to our members and fans,” he insisted.
Finally, regarding the kickoff times of Espanyol's recent matches, he opined: “I'm going to answer as a member. Imagine someone who goes to a match on a Monday at 9pm. They end up getting home after 11pm and don't go to sleep until 1am, knowing they have to get up early again for work. Or someone who finishes a day's work at 10pm and can't go to the stadium because the game is on a weekday and it's already the second half by then. All the fans who suffer are those who, on top of everything else, pay a fortune for their season tickets. That's why I'm complaining. I've been on the other side, and it's outrageous. We want full stadiums, with a great spectacle… I think, if we're reasonable, this doesn't make sense, but I'm not the right person who set kickoff times. e should consider the fans, who are the ones who make football great.”