Sarabia: "If I have to apologize, I apologize"

New former Espanyol manager Eder Sarabia held his first press conference, apologizing for controversial comments made against Espanyol fans while managing Andorra.

Eder Sarabia was officially presented as RCD Espanyol's new manager on Wednesday, replacing Manolo González. At his first press conference at the Auditorio Juan Segura Palomares, accompanied by sporting director Monchi and his four-man coaching staff, Sarabia addressed 31 questions from 20 media outlets over more than an hour.

Sarabia directly addressed controversy surrounding comments he made against Espanyol supporters while managing Andorra, saying: "If I have to apologize to people who felt offended, I apologize." He also reaffirmed his commitment to the club, stating "my team is RCD Espanyol and I will defend it to the death with everything I know," despite his Athletic Bilbao family connections.

Sarabia will miss Saturday's home match against Deportivo da Coruña due to a suspension carried over from last season. He confirmed plans for a training camp during the upcoming international break from Tuesday to Saturday, potentially including a friendly match. The manager also discussed his departure from Elche, where he had a contract until June 2027, explaining he needed five months to reorganize priorities and strengthen his coaching staff.