Vicente Moreno knows Espanyol's next rival, Mallorca, by heart, who on the previous day against Alavés played with nine players who had been in LaLiga SmartBank the previous year and who his former coach knows perfectly. For this reason, and in a meeting that qualifies as “special”, he paid tribute to Mallorca. “They are two better years and they have baggage. He has taken a step forward and has made an investment. I would not be surprised if he was one of the revelations of the championship.”
The coach valued his three-year work there despite the decline (“it was a good season except for the final stretch, we were affected by the break due to COVID”) and stressed that “I participated in that promotion from Second B to First and, although there are many opinions, my feeling of gratitude will not change“The coach anticipates a meeting between two teams that” compete “and was not impatient for Espanyol to achieve the first victory:” I am only concerned about competing, and in winning, I don't think about anything else. “
Leaving aside the vermilion team, the Espanyol coach left doubts about the presence of Adrià Pedrosa (“I don't know, it will be necessary to see”) although he was operated on Tuesday while he confirmed that there is “Some player with problems and there could be news in the lineup”. One of those who have many numbers to enter the list is Loren Morón, who can cover the loss of Wu Lei. The coach stressed that “he has a level, and that is the important thing. He has experience and has scored goals when he has had a leading role at Betis. It gives us variants “.
On this aspect the technician deepened. Loving to analyze the weaknesses of the rival, he recognizes that he has “very complete” forwards capable of adapting to the different situations of the matches. “Those at the top are complete. Anyone can play with another by their side. It is a matter of space occupation. They are reference players who can play backwards, play nine, on the wing.… Loren gives us that, “he argued.
RdT and Moreno.
Joan M. Bascu
The double joy and the variants that the coach has
What is not negotiable is work. Espanyol has generated chances but their forwards have not been successful. Moreno does not consider that it is because the defensive work they do weighs them down and that has helped the parakeet team continue with a clean sheet. “If we look at the statistics, we generate a lot, but we don't score goals. The day we don't do the work … We shouldn't have that excuse for not reaching the top. There are Champions teams and international players who do that job and reach the top and score. We have to look in those mirrors. You have to do that defensive work. “
Finally, Moreno was prudent in assessing the market (“there are still days to close”) but said he was “happy” (“I am always happy, “he clarified) and that “level players” have arrived. He was also satisfied with the call with the U21 of Joan García and Nico Melamed and he missed Pol Lozano, who will go on loan (surely to Girona).