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González: "We want to win, for Espanyol to grow and to improve"
The coach looks ahead to the game against Real Madrid
Always quick with a quote, RCD Espanyol coach Manolo González responded in humourous fashion in his pre-match press conference before the game against Real Madrid.
Asked about the fact that Espanyol haven't won at the Santiago Bernabéu in almost 30 years, he told the media that “History is what Christopher Columbus did.”
“We're going to compete to the death, and we need consistency to get something positive out of this match.”
“The team are in good shape, are confident and are motivated. We want to win, for Espanyol to grow and to improve. We're thinking about winning, not about whether it's been 30 years since we've achieved it or whether we dream of leaving the Bernabéu as LaLiga leaders. In order to win, we will have to have a perfect game and run like beasts.”
Similarly, he insisted that the team have adopted the idea of winning every game, “but that's very difficult in the Primera División. Every game has its demands, and that's been seen in these four matchdays. We want to always be winners and have the mentality that saw us achieve survival last year.”
Refereeing is another point that has been emphasised in the build-up to the match against Real Madrid, but González insisted that “Referees need to be left alone. I believe in good faith. Their job is tough, and we make it even tougher for them. Clubs like us seem like nothing compared to the others. We have to let them work in peace. I believe in their good faith. I try not to talk about them and let them work,” he concluded.