RCD Espanyol celebrates the growth of its young talents. In a recent interview, promising defender Arnau Puig has publicly praised coach Manolo González for his crucial role in his remarkable defensive development this season, establishing himself as a key player for the Pericos in LaLiga Hypermotion.

Puig, who played the full 90 minutes in RCD Espanyol's recent 1-1 draw against Real Zaragoza at the RCDE Stadium, has been a constant figure in the white-and-blue defense. This is his first full season as a starter under González's guidance, demonstrating surprising maturity for his age.

“I believe my development is mostly due to the coach, who has believed in me from the very beginning,” Arnau Puig told a local outlet after the match. “He’s given me the trust and time to work well. I feel I’ve improved, mostly defensively, thanks to him and the daily work we do in training sessions. Obviously, there’s always room for improvement; you learn from every opponent. I’m happy, and we must recover well for the upcoming challenges.”

When asked about the most challenging forward he has faced this campaign, Puig did not hesitate to name Juan Carlos Arana of Racing Santander. “He has been the toughest opponent I’ve had this season. His mobility and ability to make runs demand the maximum from you in every play,” confessed the young RCD Espanyol defender.

At just 22 years old, Arnau Puig has already accumulated 38 appearances across all competitions this 2025-26 season, surpassing 2,800 minutes of play under Manolo González’s tutelage. His performance has been fundamental to RCD Espanyol’s aspirations of returning to Spain’s top football division.

The commitment and progression of players like Puig are a clear indication of the good work being done at RCD Espanyol, laying the groundwork for a promising future for both the club and its emerging talents.