“In an Espanyol-Barça match we are not going to come with bouquets of roses”

The RCD Espanyol coach, Manolo González, assured this Friday that this Saturday’s derby against FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium will be experienced with the logical tension typical of the rivalry, without having “bouquets of roses” in the stands, although he appealed to “common sense” and did not go into assessing the external noise that has been created in the run-up to this clash marked by the return of goalkeeper Joan Garcia to the ‘perico’ fiefdom.

“I think the fans are going to push, logically; in an Espanyol-Barça match we are not going to come with bouquets of roses to the match. It is a matter of common sense. But when we go to the Camp Nou and they sing ‘second’ and other things, nothing happens either. These are normal things within a derby, of rivalry, there is nothing more,” he expressed at a press conference.

Of course, Manolo González asked his fans for “common sense.” “People must be aware of several things for tomorrow; the first person to suffer is the club, the team and the fans if something happens that should not happen,” said the blue and white coach.

“It’s a very nice and good year to enjoy it, people will cheer tomorrow and I tell them to be very calm. If something happens, like Barça scores and they celebrate it in a strange way, we don’t have to go into that. We have to be very isolated. What is happening here is that Espanyol screws up to get their hands on it somewhere, but I am convinced that that is not going to happen,” he assured.

Manolo González did make it very clear that he is not going to accept moral lessons from any Blaugrana fan, remembering what happened with Luis Figo after his departure to Real Madrid. “But behavioral lessons, no. Please. Because I have many friends from Barça and I have told one, that when Figo came to the Camp Nou… They are not there to give lessons to anyone,” he assured.

He insisted that the team is isolated from external noise and focused exclusively on the sports section. “We are fine, dedicated to the sporting issue. We are analyzing the rival, preparing the game as best as possible and focused on football, which is what will mark the game, for sure. We know it is complicated, but we are motivated and eager to go out and give everything,” he said.

Asked about the return of Joan Garcia and the possible reaction of the stands, the coach was blunt. “I don’t care, to be honest. I don’t care about Joan Garcia, in this sense. What matters to me is winning,” he said.

The ‘perico’ coach also appreciated the continued support of the fans since his arrival on the bench. “Since I’ve been here, 95 percent of the games people have been with the team, to the death. People are identified with the team and we have to continue giving with attitude and football what the people want,” he noted.

Regarding the prominence of footballers trained in the quarry, González was satisfied with their performance and continuity. “There are many home players playing every week and it is something to be proud of. Javi Puado, Pol Lozano or Jofre have never been given anything, they have earned it,” he stated.

Regarding the rival, the blue and white coach highlighted the level of FC Barcelona since the arrival of Hansi Flick. “Barça has a very high level, they play at a very high pace and with many records. It will be a very complicated game, but we are prepared to face it and compete at the highest level,” he explained.

Finally, González vindicated the ambition of the locker room and the confidence to compete against any rival. “This locker room has the ambition to go out to every game to win it. The team has changed its mentality and feels that it can knock down anyone,” he concluded.