Heading back into the final block of league fixtures in 2024/25 after the international break, Manolo González insists that his Espanyol side, currently 15th in LaLiga, are “capable of beating anyone” as they prepare to take on Atlético Madrid on Saturday.
Los Periquitos find themselves just a point clear of the relegation zone. Atléti, by contrast, sit four points behind Real Madrid in the league standings and will strive to stay close to their cross-city rivals when they head to the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat this weekend.
But Atléti have lost their last four games in all competitions, and while González remains insistent that the Madrileños “are a team with great potential,” Espanyol will be hoping that they can extend that winless run to five matches.
The Espanyol boss, who has been at the club for just over a year and oversaw the club’s promotion from the Segunda División last season, highlighted that the visitors have suffered “two strange results” in recent weeks: “against Real Madrid [in the UEFA Champions League], and the one against Barcelona when they were leading 2-0 in the 70th minute [and went on to lose 2-4].”
The 46-year-old is quietly confident that Espanyol can pick up another impressive victory, though, despite the fact “it will be a very difficult game” for his side against “a great team.”
“But I also see my players now, and we are capable of beating anyone,” he suggested.
RCD Espanyol v Atlético Madrid gets underway at 15:15 GMT [16:15 CET] on Saturday 29 March.