Sergio García: "I am here to serve Espanyol"

Interim coach García will lead Espanyol at Villarreal on Friday before Eder Sarabia's permanent arrival.

Sergio García will take charge of Espanyol's visit to La Cerámica on Friday as interim manager, stepping in following Manolo González's departure and ahead of Eder Sarabia's official appointment.

In his pre-match press conference, García acknowledged the disappointment of Espanyol's Copa del Rey elimination to Sestao but stressed the opportunity to respond immediately. He confirmed limited preparation time due to recovery needs for several players but expressed confidence in the squad's maturity and ability to trouble Villarreal despite their current form.

García, who previously managed Espanyol's B team, said he has not yet spoken with incoming manager Sarabia and will approach Friday's match with his own tactical ideas. He expressed pride at the opportunity to manage the club and called for unity between players, staff and supporters to restore Espanyol to their rightful level.