Manolo on the absences, Carlos Romero, his eleven, the match, staying up...

Most important match of the season: “We have to go all out, give everything, which is what we are doing even though with poor results. We need to win and get closer to the objective. We have to go all out, there’s no other option.”

Schedule: “In the end, what matters is us. That we do well in the match, that we don’t lose it ourselves. The opponent right now does not matter.”

Monchi: “We have talked with him, he has conveyed confidence and told us to give everything until the end. The club trusts that we will get things done. He just arrived, he has to settle in, so to speak.”

Monchi as a change agent: “It will be seen in the results. I don’t know. He’s an important figure who will be positive for the club, but the most important are the players, who are the protagonists of the story. We have to work on the field to win. He spoke with everyone yesterday. He hasn’t disrupted the group. He brings a point of stability that maybe we needed, it’s not added pressure.”

Starting eleven: “We have it pretty clear. We have one doubt in one position. The rest is decided. We think it is ideal for the type of match. I also think those who come on in the second half matter a lot. We need everyone playing to give their maximum.”

Atmosphere at the RCDE Stadium: “The people know what’s at stake. That we all go together, as has always been shown since I’ve been here. The season-end grades, now we have to go together. In Sevilla, two of our own mistakes condemned us. That can’t happen. If we get ahead, we have to kill the game.”

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Carlos Romero
3.750.000€+170.000€    2

J1

DF

25

Injuries: “Unless something unexpected happens, Romero will be able to play tomorrow. The other day he felt some discomfort. Four of the five changes in Sevilla were due to tiredness or because they are injured. If nothing unusual happens, Romero has to be there, the one who won’t make it is Ngonge and obviously Dolan and Calero due to the five yellow cards.”

Figure of unity: “I have always felt loved by the members. When people don’t win, it’s normal to be upset and more with the coach. This is my job, I accept it as such. But it’s a group issue, whether we win or lose. There isn’t one coach or player who wins or loses the games. When the season ends, it will be time to evaluate everything. What I’m very clear about is that I don’t want to be here clinging to the chair. I love the club, I want the best for the entity, which is far above the individuals. I will give my all for Espanyol in the two months left or one more year.”

How we’ve gotten here: “I wish there was a football explanation. If I had seen that the locker room was not with me, I would have left, if I didn’t take it seriously, maybe. If you see some situations, you have to jump ship. But that hasn’t happened. Many circumstances have occurred. There are matches where we screwed up, and others where situations happen when things go badly. It’s a shame because it was a nice year, but I think there have been mistakes by everyone, not only those of us who face up on the field.”

Many points lost after the 80th minute: “It’s complicated. The other day the match was controlled. There was no danger, they were nervous. The action that led to the 1-1 is criminal, we defended it badly. And later the play for the 2-1 is avoidable. Football has been very cruel with us. As in Vallecas. There is no football explanation.”

Message to the locker room: “It’s a complicated situation for all of us down here. We have to accept it. By working, fighting. We have to have personality, confidence and show that we are a good team. This is a day for that, I say personality so as not to say something else. We have to be brave. Giving your all isn’t running. You have to defend well, know what you have to do and be focused.”

Playing at home: “It’s the best thing that could happen to us. The fans have always been there. Tomorrow and on the day against Real will be there. It depends on us, we have to take steps forward and win the match.”

Faith, courage and honor: “The team has the obligation to always be worthy of the shirt and the badge. We are human, there are better and worse days. Even on bad days, the team has always tried.”

Absences in Athletic: “Valverde is one of the best coaches in the league but if we are well, we are capable of defeating anyone.”

Week of work: “We work on everything. Then there are situations in the match that are uncontrollable. What you have to try is to have control over all the group work. Afterwards, there are game situations impossible to control.”

Psychological aspect: “When you’ve been down all year, you accept it. But no one is prepared to fight to avoid relegation. No team in the league is prepared to fight for not going down. It will be complicated for everyone. No excuses.”

Rivals: “Everyone looks at the rivals because you depend on them. Just as we look at them, the rivals look at Espanyol. No team is safe from this, not even those fighting for Europe.”

Reserve team players: “If we think the time comes, we will put them in. Maybe it was the ideal year considering how the first half went, but now when you’re fighting relegation… It’s populist and I could do it, but we will only do it if we think it can help us. We won’t throw a kid to the lions. Playing for Espanyol can’t be a gift, you have to earn it. Tomorrow Timera, Lluc Castell and Ferran Gómez will be called up. If we think they have to play, they will.”

Players' concentration: “In the end when we talk about LaLiga level, it includes everything. Not only being faster, also the mind. That is there. That’s why some play many years at Madrid. We have to be focused and not look for excuses.”