6 days ago
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Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Espanyol in the Catalan derby left Hansi Flick delighted, with the German notably praising Joan Garcia after the game.
However, his counterpart, Manolo Gonzalez, wasn’t very happy as he admitted Barcelona did not win unfairly and that Espanyol made mistakes.
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What Espanyol coach said after the Barcelona game
Speaking to the media after the game, Manolo wasn’t shy of praising his own players, but admitted there was scope for his team to win.
“I’m very proud of the team and the public, how it has helped. Angry because it was a game that we had to win and it escaped us. We played well, making mistakes, but we had to win,” he said (h/t Diario SPORT).
Reflecting on the decisive moments, the coach admitted his side was punished by Barcelona’s clinical nature.
“It was a play that we activated late and we didn’t need it when it was time. It’s their merit and they score because they have quality. The 0-2 is football because it’s a counterattack, the cause of how the game was going,” he said.
Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez wasn’t too happy with his team’s performance. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
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Gonzalez lamented his team’s lack of efficiency, suggesting the scoreline did not reflect the flow of chances.
“The normal thing is that the game was 2-0 in the 80th minute. But this is what football is all about. We generated clear chances, but we have to score them. The opponent has the quality to hurt you,” he stated.
However, he refused to blame bad luck, offering a candid assessment of why they lost while also admitting that Barcelona won fair and square.
“Barça did not win unfairly,” he said. “Someday we will arrive once and win. No matter how well you do everything, if you don’t score you don’t deserve to win it. We were close to winning today and we generated a lot, but if you don’t get it right you can’t win. There is no more.”
The atmosphere at the RCDE Stadium was electric, something the coach acknowledged. “The atmosphere was impressive,” he noted. “I’m proud of the team, but we have to have the point of demand and leave angry because we had to win the game.”
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Regarding the mood in the locker room, Gonzalez admitted that the dressing room is not in the best of moods right now, but will come back soon.
“The dressing room is angry. This is not good for us. We don’t always have to win, but it is important for us to win. It was not enough for us to draw,” he said.
“This is about successes. No matter how well you do everything, no matter how much you arrive, you don’t deserve to win the game. You can’t fail what we’ve failed. It’s a very important part of the game,” he added.
When asked about goalkeeper Joan García, who faced a hostile reception from the Barcelona fans but performed superbly, Gonzalez was tight-lipped.
“I’m not going to talk about Joan. Whatever he says, they are going to turn it around,” he admitted.
English (US) ·