The uncertain future of Manolo González on the Espanyol bench

BarcelonaEspanyol had luck on their side, from Marko Dmitrovic, against Levante, the second to last in the standings. Towards the end, the Serbian made three miraculous saves to salvage a point in a match that ended with a shot against the crossbar by the Granotas. Just after, the white-and-blue fans had had enough and for the first time this season booed and jeered their players, who have gone from dreaming of Europe to fighting against relegation. It would be the third in six years for the parakeets.

Only six points out of 48 explain the fall of a team that no longer recognizes itself and has forgotten how to win. It doesn't know how to do it. On Monday, it became evident. Fear and nerves paralyzed the footballers, lacking confidence and with a very heavy burden on their shoulders: they haven't achieved victory for more than four months. The blow from Vallecas was too harsh and has caused havoc. The faces of the players, devastated at Rayo's ground, and the tone of Manolo González, also affected, confirm it. “The team gives its all, but it's not enough,” said the Galician after the draw against Levante. Despite the five-point lead over the relegation zone, Espanyol is starting to smell death.

What will happen to Manolo González?

Sixteen matchdays without a win is something almost no coach can withstand, and Manolo, the architect of the promotion and a first-round record, is more than questioned. Sporting director Fran Garagarza is of the opinion to dismiss him, to seek an electric shock to awaken the team and ward off the specter of relegation from Cornellà-El Prat. He has seen it this way for days, but he has lost influence since his medical leave for the heart attack he suffered due to the heart attack he suffered.

Garagarza, who defended Manolo's continuity in his most critical moment at Espanyol –after the thrashing last season at Montilivi–, is now part of a sports committee in which Sergio Ortega, the coordinator, also has a say; Alexander Rosen, an external sports advisor to the ownership; Unai Ezcurra, director of processes and big data and who has taken on some of Garagarza's duties in his absence; and the main shareholder, Alan Pace.

Alan Pace's modus operandi

As was already the case with Chen Yansheng, the owner has the final say. And Pace, who did not preside over the RCDE Stadium stands on Monday against Levante, does not usually sack his coaches even when things are going badly. Burnley, the club he has managed since the end of 2020, has only sacked one, Sean Dyche, and that was for extra-sporting reasons.

He did not sack Vincent Kompany, now in the Champions League semi-finals with Bayern Munich, with whom he was relegated to the Championship in 2024. Nor has he dismissed Scott Parker this season, the coach of a Burnley side that has also gone sixteen consecutive matchdays without a win and which confirmed its relegation a week ago. Although it is not entirely out of the question, with this history it is difficult to imagine Pace deciding to dispense with Manolo before the season ends.

What happens after June is another story. Manolo González has an automatic renewal in his contract until 2027 if Espanyol stays up, but we will have to see if both parties want it that way, because in recent weeks the relationship between the club, the environment, the fans and the Galician, who has been coach, spokesperson and whipping boy, has been very strained. "I ask that if I am here it is because people want me here, that I be a figure of unity and not of disagreement," said the coach a few months ago, who no longer generates as much consensus as before.

What awaits him now is Real Madrid, the next opponent for an Espanyol side that is playing for a large part of its survival chances this Sunday (9 p.m., Movistar Plus) against the Whites and next week at Sevilla's ground in a dramatic duel for both sides.