Espanyol coach in tears after ending winless run – ‘After the uncle’s death, the worst period of my life’

Espanyol coach in tears after ending winless run – ‘After the uncle’s death, the worst period of my life’

Espanyol finally ended their winless run in 2026 on Wednesday night, securing a vital three points in the relegation battle. Los Pericos had not won any of the 18 games they had played this calendar year, seeing their European aspirations slip into relegation battle despair.

Los Pericos can breathe much easier though, after a 2-0 win over Athletic Club at the RCDE Stadium. Pere Milla opened the scoring with just over 20 minutes to go, and in stoppage time, Kike Garcia made certain of the result. At that point, manager Manolo Gonzalez broke down in tears.

‘Worst moment of my life after uncle’s death’ – Gonzalez

Speaking after the game, Manolo Gonzalez spoke about the intense pressure he has come under, both from himself and externally.

“It has been the worst professional moment and in general, apart from when my uncle died who was like a father to me. Since I’ve been here it’s been leaps without a safety net, seasons in which we couldn’t afford to fail. The weight on our shoulders was immense. It’s been a hellish second half of the season; the players’ futures are at stake here.”

“You try to find the best, and when you lose, it means what you were aiming for didn’t work out. I’m grateful that they’ve stayed by my side all this time,” he told MD.

Gonzalez was asked how he would be sleeping tonight.

“I hope well. I haven’t had a good sleep in months. Lately, I’m half awake at six in the morning. It’s the coach’s job, and even more so in my case.”

What’s left for Espanyol?