Manolo González has made it clear that Espanyol cannot afford to be off their game when they host Elche at the RCDE Stadium on Friday night. With the team facing a quick turnaround, the coach wants a sharper start and a more complete performance if they are to take the three points.
González’s message is simple: Espanyol have shown enough in flashes to suggest they can compete, but they must cut out the early mistakes that have forced them to chase matches. He pointed to the second-half response in their last outing, as well as the game in Pamplona against Osasuna, as examples of the standard he wants to see from the first whistle.
Espanyol need to start matches better
The coach did not hide his frustration with the way Espanyol began their previous game. “We cannot go into this competition without being fully focused or by making glaring errors, as happened the other day,” he said. “When you make that many mistakes, you pay the price.”
That is the central concern for Espanyol now. González wants the side to find the balance that has sometimes eluded them in the opening stages, rather than having to rely on recovery mode after the break.
He said the team should aim for the kind of performance they produced in the second half the other day and in Pamplona, stressing that the reaction came through the way they played rather than by forcing the issue with long balls or simply flooding the box.
Elche arrive with real danger
Espanyol’s task is made harder by the opponent in front of them. González described Elche as a side with very strong qualities, and one capable of causing damage even when the game looks lost.
He highlighted their recent comeback against Real Madrid, when Elche drew level at 2-2 before conceding the winner in stoppage time, and also referenced how they nearly overturned a 3-0 deficit against Racing. For González, that is proof they remain dangerous right to the end.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” he said. “We need to stay focused, be fully switched on in the game, and perform well if we want to win.”
Confidence remains, but the margin for error is small
There is still belief inside the dressing room. González said the mood is good and the group remains strong, even if the players are frustrated by the first-half showing in the previous match, himself included. He also insisted the team are fully capable of creating chances, noting that they do so regularly even if some games have been more difficult than others, including Sevilla.
He added that Espanyol are in better shape at this stage of the season than they have been in previous years, which suggests there is a platform to build on. But the message before Friday is unmistakable: the good moments will only matter if Espanyol are switched on from the start and can turn recent promise into 3 points.
At the RCDE Stadium, that means no slow opening, no careless errors and no letting Elche grow into the contest. González has set the standard, and now Espanyol must meet it.
