Espanyol have presented their new manager Luis Garcia Fernandez to the press following his appointment on Monday night. He takes over from Diego Martinez, who was sacked the same day, with the brief of lifting Los Pericos out of the relegation zone.
They also held an open training session on Thursday, as they look to improve morale around the club. Luis Garcia takes charge of his first game against Athletic Club on Saturday. He conveyed plenty of energy in his first press conference.
“I left the first training session today happier than a kid at Christmas. I have had many years in my playing days in which the team have been saved at the last second or on the last matchday. I’m a person who fights until the end. We’re going to try to play good football so that our opponents don’t like to play against us.”
“If Espanyol has one good attribute, it is the interiors [central midfielders],” Luis Garcia also explained.
Diario AS seem to think that he will look to base his team off control of the game through his central midfielders. Equally, Luis Garcia is known for not being adverse to playing forward quickly. His RSC International side were top scorers in their Tercera group.
Garcia was keen channel the frustration which has built up in Cornella.
“I see a very committed dressing room, with great desire and with ‘contained anger’ because things have not gone as they had wanted. We have to, between us all, get the best from them. The players have to feel calm and loose, and that is our job. They have to float freely on the pitch and they have to be competitive.”
Espanyol currently sit in 18th position in La Liga, and have 11 games to save themselves from the drop, although they are only in on goal difference. Many feel it is something of a risk to appoint an inexperienced manager like Luis Garcia at such a crucial point in the season, particularly replacing a well-respected coach like Martinez.
More must-reads: