Manolo González on Kumbulla, Pol Lozano, Gragera, Edu Expósito, the transfer market, and the need for improvement

RCD Espanyol

Being in relegation so early:

“It would worry us more if the feelings were always very bad or if the team was performing very poorly. The team can improve, it must improve. Being third from bottom with one game less, having it at home, we would be better off away, but we have to stay calm and keep a cool head because it will be a long and complicated season”.

Injuries:

54

Kumbulla
2.160.000€-20.000€?

J13

0

J12

4

J11

2

J10

16

J9

DF

01

27

Pol Lozano
910.000€?

J13

-

J12

4

J11

3

J10

5

J9

MD

00

36

Gragera
1.270.000€?

J13

-

J12

-

J11

2

J10

6

J9

MD

00

0

Edu Expósito
360.000€+10.000€?

J13

-

J12

-

J11

-

J10

-

J9

MD

00

“Hopefully at least Pol Lozano and Kumbulla can be in Girona. Calero and Gragera are more complicated. Edu Expósito has been out for a long time, he will pick up the pace quickly; by the end of the first round and the beginning of the second, he should be ready to compete”.

Offensive and defensive problems

“I am more concerned about conceding goals. We know it's a tough category, not everyone can score many goals; We need to urgently correct the defensive issue”.

“They are players coming from other leagues and they all need an adaptation period. We have this self-demanding point, we have it and they have to step up”.

Raising the level

“We all have to raise the level if we want to be in La Liga next year. Going up from the Segunda is a complicated year. The category is very demanding and if we don't raise the level, it will be hard to stay in it. We know it will be a tough, complicated year”.

Transfer market

“We are not thinking about it right now, I try not to waste too much time on things that are not tangible. I prefer to focus on improving the team every week. When Christmas arrives, we will have to make a plan because it does not only depend on the coaching staff, but also on economic factors and a broader situation”.

Possible return of RDT

0

Raúl de Tomás
820.000€-10.000€-

J13

?

J12

-

J11

-

J10

-

J9

DL

00

“If he is at his level and eager to compete, he is a different player. But so many names come out, the same happened in the summer, that some must hit the mark. I have no information that he has offered himself”.

Supporters

"I feel more esteem than rejection. In the football world, we tend to be valued by results, but people see that we are giving our all and that we have had a tough schedule. With time, things will work out, but in Spain, there is no such patience”.

Offside

“You have to trust in technology. What's not right is being happy when it's in your favor and complaining when it's not. What bothers me is that when it happens to Espanyol, nothing happens, but when it happens to Barça, it's like the end of the world”.