Manolo González stays as Espanyol coach for Málaga trip to La Rosaleda

Manolo González will remain in charge of Espanyol for the trip to La Rosaleda against Málaga, as reported by Sport. The call comes after rumours intensified in recent hours about the coach’s future due to the team’s slump.

The coach arrives under pressure following a run that worsened after last Friday’s loss at the RCDE Stadium to Elche, where Espanyol failed to overcome a side that had ten men for much of the match. That setback was compounded just days earlier by a 2-1 defeat at Butarque after another disappointing first half. In Cornellà-El Prat, the atmosphere turned negative again, with the memory of last season’s 18 winless league games also hovering in the background.

The defeat hit hard

In his press conference, Manolo González acknowledged the problems and placed responsibility on himself. “It’s the worst game since I’ve been at Espanyol… I need to realize we’re playing something we can’t play,” he said, as quoted by Sport. In parallel, the club’s president and sporting management discussed the bench situation.

In the end, despite talk of a potential dismissal, there will be no change. Sport states the decision fell to Monchi, who opted to keep backing Manolo González. The coach, the article adds, also has the support of the dressing room and key voices in the squad. Monchi views the current return—7 points from 21 possible—as poor, but not enough to fire a coach who, only weeks ago, was confirmed.

Time to fix things

The international break gives room to work on corrections and improve the team’s on-pitch look. Before the next match, the article places the Málaga game on October 9 at La Rosaleda. Ahead of it, Espanyol trained on Monday at the Dani Jarque facilities and then will have several days off.