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Sarabia officially presented as RCD Espanyol coach
The new coach says he wants to win over fans with "work, character and results"
Having been appointed as RCD Espanyol coach last week, and with having met up with the team for their opening training sessions together, Eder Sarabia was given his official presentation this Wednesday at the RCDE Stadium.
“I like being rebellious and brave, and challenging certain established norms,” he stated to the media.
“Above all, I value that rebelliousness as a way to bring out the best in everyone. I want every player to believe they have the power to make the things they desire actually happen. I want to do this at this historic club, which boasts an incredible fanbase and stadium.”
The coach explained that, during his first few days at RCD Espanyol, he has looked to the club’s 125th-anniversary celebration as the benchmark for what he hopes to achieve.
“I experienced it firsthand as an opposition coach when I was at Elche; both Espanyol and the fans here were a perfect example of what I’m looking for. We want to recapture that spirit, that energy, that enthusiasm, and that connection, so that we can experience some truly magical days,” he stated.
“Reaching an agreement with Espanyol was a very quick and easy process. From the very first moment, my staff and I knew this was the right place for us; we were incredibly excited to come here. We carry a great responsibility at a wonderful club.”
Sarabia also offered praise for his predecessors, singling out “the work done by Sergio García and how he prepared the team for the match against Villarreal, and also what Manolo González did here. He is a spectacular person. All of us coaches hold Manolo in high regard because of the kind of man he is. I will always speak highly of his work; now, it’s up to us to build upon that and add our own touch. We want to retain the many things that were done well under Manolo, while allowing the process to unfold naturally. All this while competing hard and striving for wins.”
In his initial assessment of the squad, Sarabia remarked that “there is a great deal of talent and a variety of tactical options available to us. The better we get to know the players, the more performance we’ll be able to extract from them. The other day, the team pressed effectively, found ways to advance with the ball, and gave away very few goalscoring opportunities.”
“I also want to say that I will now represent Espanyol with everything I have. I want to win over the fans through my work, my character, and my results. I want them to feel proud,” he continued.
“I have always been an optimist and a big thinker. Doing big things is achieved by laying a solid foundation and building upon what is already in place. We must grow gradually, while always keeping our sights set high. There will inevitably be difficult moments, as this is one of the best leagues in the world, but when the final whistle blows, we should feel that we have done things well. If this were cycling, it would be a Grand Tour, not a one-day classic. We want to grow, improve, and prepare ourselves for significant achievements.”
Regarding his expectations, Sarabia concluded that “I always approach every job as if it were for life. That is a great source of motivation for me, so I truly hope to stay here for many years. I feel that I have always managed to forge a strong connection with people, wherever I’ve been.”