Espanyol coach: I haven’t liked Barcelona since I was a child, not because I coached Espanyol.

In an interview with the digital magazine "Panenka", Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez talked about his deep feelings for the club and his dislike of Barcelona.

When asked why he chose the Spaniard, Gonzalez revealed that he also received an invitation from the Spanish Second Division team before coaching: "I could have signed for Hercules, but frankly, I did not expect that I would become the head coach of the first team. Luis Garcia was still there at the time, and I had a good relationship with him. , I just wish him the best. It was generally expected that the team would be taken over by Ramis or another reputable coach, but that is not the case, and now we are here."

Gonzalez also worked as a bus driver for the club, and although this experience was short, he enjoyed it. But whenever other people bring it up, Gonzalez feels unhappy: "To be honest, I don't quite understand this focus. It's a bit too superficial, as if I am the only one who has done this... I also hope that I am born a billionaire and can focus on football my whole life, but that is not the case."

Gonzalez has never been affected by anxiety and is not affected by media exposure. His understanding of football always focuses on hard work, staying united, and trusting each other: " I don’t read any media reports and I don’t use social media. For players in the top league, you can't convince them by giving orders and intimidating them. When you win, you can dye your hair red or dress up like a clown. But the problem is that when you lose, the failures at the management level show up. If you win your players' trust through intimidation, they'll be waiting to see your jokes when the team starts losing. ”

Gonzalez’s experience and the Catalan football team The ball is closely connected, and he made no secret of his likes and dislikes: "When I was a child, the first team I came here to contact was Barcelona. But to be honest, my family has never liked Barcelona. This is not because I am now coaching Espanyol. Everyone who knows me knows this. We just don't like Barcelona, ​​that's all, it's a matter of personal preference. I have always dreamed of playing for Espanyol. I still remember going to the Sarria Stadium to watch the game, and the ticket was only 500 pesetas."

"Frankly, I don't think Espanyol fans feel that they are not Catalan. 'Barcelona is the Catalan team' is an over-hyped topic, as if teams like Girona, Nastic or Lleida are not Catalan teams. As I said, Barcelona is such a behemoth that other teams look dwarfed next to them, but I can feel that Espanyol fans always identify with Catalonia and its values."