"Barra libre" for Espanyol: Manolo González's withering attack on La Liga scheduling
Espanyol boss Manolo González has launched a scathing critique of La Liga's fixture scheduling ahead of Valencia clash, claiming there's a free-for-all when it comes to his club.
Espanyol’s gaffer Manolo González has gone proper mental about the treatment of his club, particularly regarding fixture scheduling, as the pericos prepare for their crucial visit to Mestalla.
Espanyol’s current form
The Barcelona-based outfit find themselves in a bit of a pickle, having failed to register a win in 2026 despite sitting a respectable fifth in the table. With two defeats and a draw from their opening three matches this calendar year, González is feeling the heat – though he’s not having any of the negativity.
“You lot are desperate for Espanyol to lose,” he quipped sarcastically at reporters suggesting the team is in crisis. “Fifth place, ten points clear of eighth, but apparently we’re in a bad moment and poor form.”
The scheduling rant
What really got González’s goat was La Liga’s approach to scheduling Espanyol’s fixtures:
- He claims Espanyol play 48% of their matches on weekdays – the highest percentage in La Liga
- The boss believes there’s unfair treatment compared to other clubs
- He called for the club to “bang the table” in protest
“With Espanyol there’s barra libre for them to play whenever people feel like it,” González fumed, using the Spanish term for ‘open bar’ to suggest there’s a free-for-all when it comes to scheduling his team’s matches.
Valencia challenge and transfer hopes
Looking ahead to the Valencia match, González expects an aggressive opponent and acknowledges Mestalla’s intimidating atmosphere, where Espanyol have struggled in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, he expressed frustration with the January transfer window, noting it’s proving difficult to secure the quality additions he desires. González highlighted how the market has shifted toward permanent transfers rather than loans, citing Raúl Moro’s €9 million move as an example of the challenging environment.
Club ambitions
Despite their decent league position, González believes the entire club structure needs to match the team’s performance level:
“The ambition has to come from everyone, not just Manolo, Cabrera, or Expósito. If we want to grow as a club, we need to take steps forward. It’s not a criticism – I demand it of myself too.”
The Espanyol boss clearly feels he’s often left to face the music alone when it comes to the club’s grievances – and he’s not having a bubble bath about it anymore.