Four draws and two victories. Manolo González's balance on the Espanyol bench is currently insufficient. The classification says so, in which the parakeet team is now fourth. The most important moment of the season has arrived and Espanyol does not seem to have the measure of the category. The improvement in defense contrasts with a worrying ineffectiveness in attack. And so, winning is almost impossible.
In the midst of this football uncertainty comes the Tourmalet, a series of matches against the top of the table. To start, Elche, a very dangerous team at home and against which Espanyol can only win. A new draw could further distance them from direct promotion, now two points away.
Sporting, in the Stage Front, will be the next rival, before traveling to Valladolid, possibly the most difficult match of the remainder of the season. This uphill climb will end at home against Oviedo. Four games against top-ten rivals that will define what this Espanyol wants to be.
For now, the souffle has been deflating with Manolo González and the excitement has turned into resignation. The team is now much more reliable defensively, but in attack there is no plan, no idea that will help them be superior to their rivals. The most worrying thing is that it doesn't matter who is in front, be it Leganés or Andorra, because Espanyol is not capable of winning.
Manolo González stated this Friday that beating Elche "would be an important blow to the table" and added that, "beyond the points", it would mean an injection of "very big confidence."
The coach, in a press conference held at the Dani Jarque Sports City, announced that the team will go out "to win and compete" and explained that he is "aware of the urgency of points" with six days left to close the competition, without tell the dispute of the hypothetical 'play-off' for promotion.
Manolo González did not hide that, despite trying to keep the team "calm", the matches are decisive: "You know that what remains are finals, both for us and for the rival. The repercussion now of winning or losing is more important and "We want the block to continue growing as much as possible."
On the other hand, the head of the Catalan bench opted to "turn the page" from the draw against Andorra (1-1) at the Stage Front Stadium. "It's not worth looking back and we tried to focus on Elche. We skated on the day we least had to skate," he reflected.
Regarding Elche, the coach predicted a "complicated" match at the Martínez Valero stadium: "We have to go and win. It will be an open match and we must try to control the opponent both with and without the ball. We have prepared the duel well to try to take advantage our good things."
The coach, in any case, stressed Espanyol's intention to "give their all" and go out "to win" in a duel marked in red on the calendar.
Manolo González recalled that the locker room has always "shown its face" and has "competed", removing, he clarified, "the first half against Andorra."
On the other hand, the Catalan analyzed the situation of Nico Melamed, who is out for this match due to an injury to the hamstring muscles of his left leg: "He is quite well and we hope he can play against Sporting Gijón. But if he breaks again Yes, we can lose him for the rest of the season, so we have to be very careful."
