Extra time for Manolo González

Manolo González keeps his job at Espanyol despite four defeats in five games; he will manage Tuesday's Copa del Rey tie against Sestao River.

Manolo González has been reprieved at RCD Espanyol. Despite mounting pressure following a 2–1 defeat at Santander — the club's fourth loss in five matches — the sense at the club is that the Galician manager will remain in the dugout for Tuesday's Copa del Rey fixture against Segunda Federación side Sestao River at Las Llanas (19:00). González will take training on the morning of the match at the Dani Jarque training ground.

Under González's management, Espanyol has won only four of 31 matches in what the club describes as a disastrous 2026. The reprieve does not signal confidence in his future; sporting director Monchi is already planning for life without him, but with the Copa del Rey and a trip to Villarreal looming on Friday, the club does not want to rush into a managerial change.

Espanyol, now in the relegation zone, has conceded late goals in recent weeks — drawing 1–1 with Málaga (Adrián Niño scoring in stoppage time), losing 1–0 to Atlético Madrid (Álex Baena's goal in the 90th minute), and falling 2–1 to Racing (Jeanuël Belocian and Yassir Zabiri scoring in the 84th minute after Edu Expósito's opener).