RCD Espanyol coach Manolo González has outlined the team's philosophy ahead of the match against Sevilla. González stated that fun, for him, is winning, in comments reported by Mundo Deportivo on August 29th.
The perico team is currently ninth in La Liga, with three points from one win and one loss in the first two matchdays. Their next challenge is a significant home game against fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday, September 6th at 21:00 at the RCDE Stadium.
What does fun mean for Manolo González?
For the blue and white manager, the concept of fun in football is clear and direct. "La diversión es ganar" (fun is winning), stated Manolo González. He explained that real enjoyment comes when the referee blows the final whistle and the scoreline is favorable, not during the match itself. This pragmatic mentality defines the approach he wants to instill in his team for every fixture.
González even joked about this idea during his press conference. "Montaremos un circo, el Cirque du Soleil del Espanyol" (We'll set up a circus, the Cirque du Soleil of Espanyol), he said ironically, underlining that the final spectacle must be victory. The team has scored four goals and conceded two in this early season, giving them a +2 goal difference. However, they are four points behind leaders Alavés, so the need to collect three points at a time is clear.
How is Bryan Zaragoza integrating into the team?
One of the names generating the most excitement is Bryan Zaragoza, the club's latest signing. Manolo González praised the sporting direction for signing such a high-level player. The coach prefers the player to train normally with the group to be ready for the next match, rather than forcing his adaptation.
Zaragoza joins a midfield that also features players like Edu Expósito, Àlex Calatrava, and Javi Hernández. In attack, options like Tyrhys Dolan complete a squad that, according to the coach, has more solutions than in other seasons. You can check all the details of the current squad on our squad page.
What is González's view on the transfer market work?
The Espanyol coach expressed satisfaction with the planning done during the summer. Manolo González believes the team has done very good market work and now has more alternatives in all areas. This depth will be key to facing the long La Liga campaign and trying to close the gap with the top spots in the standings.
Confidence in the project is based on strengthening the team with quality players who fit his ideas. The immediate objective is clear: secure a victory against Sevilla that boosts the season. A win would allow Espanyol to close in on the European places and give meaning to that philosophy where fun and success are synonymous.
How is Espanyol approaching the clash with Sevilla?
Sunday's match at the RCDE Stadium presents itself as a high-level test against a direct rival. Sevilla arrives as the fourth-placed team, so the clash has double value in the fight for the top of the table. For Espanyol, it is an opportunity to demonstrate their growth and to add three important points at home.
Manolo González and his coaching staff will work this week with focus on this fixture. The idea is to arrive on Sunday with the team finely tuned and with all options available, including Bryan Zaragoza. Fans can follow the team's progress and check season data in our stats section. The path to building that 'Cirque du Soleil' of victories starts with a solid win against a heavyweight rival.
