Pol Lozano says Espanyol’s players must take responsibility for poor results

“If someone has to be made the scapegoat, it should be the players,” Pol Lozano said, adding that he would blame them. The midfielder spoke after Espanyol’s morning training session, reflecting on the team’s recent results and the need for self-criticism.

Espanyol are preparing this week for their match against Atlético de Madrid at the RCDE Stadium. The fixture comes at a difficult moment for the side coached by Manolo González. Lozano accepted that the players share responsibility and defended the coach amid criticism linked to the results.

Looking back at the match against Málaga, Lozano said the team had followed Manolo’s instructions in the first half: press more and keep the ball with greater composure to find space. After the break, however, the players did not continue in the same way. He rejected the suggestion that the coach had told them to sit deeper or focus more on defending. In his account, the team struggled on the ball and chose to defend in an attempt to protect the three points, but got it wrong. “It wasn’t an instruction from the coach,” he stressed, adding that they might have won by playing differently.

The midfielder also acknowledged a defensive mistake in the move that allowed Málaga to equalise. “In the top flight, that can kill you, especially against teams like Atlético de Madrid, with so much attacking potential,” he said. He nevertheless believes that a solid performance, following the work done in training, can bring a positive result against that opponent.

Defending Manolo González was another theme of Lozano’s comments. He said coaches come under particular scrutiny when results go against them, and that the same style of play would attract less criticism if the team were winning. Lozano said the players have confidence in their coach, with whom they have worked for years, and noted that he demands intensity and commitment to his instructions. “If anyone deserves our confidence, it’s the coach we have,” he said.

Lozano also sees the team’s problems in the small details. He pointed to avoidable errors late in matches and called for the side to regain its solidity. Last season, he recalled, a foul in the opposition half could have prevented an equaliser and protected three points. He also stressed the value of taking points at home, which can help the team approach away matches with greater confidence.

He went on to discuss individual roles and the group. Players who feature less, he said, must keep training well and be ready to contribute, with the team’s objective coming first. He praised Fortuño, whom he has known for a long time, and said he hopes the goalkeeper continues to develop. On the new arrivals, Lozano mentioned Calatrava and Bryan Zaragoza, who joined having had almost no pre-season preparation. Zaragoza is gradually building up his rhythm and, Lozano believes, has much more to offer.

Lozano, who came through the club’s youth system, also spoke about his attachment to Espanyol and the supporters’ demand for points. He said he understands that expectation and accepts that the team must collect more points. Ahead of the Atlético match, his message was clear: the players must take responsibility and the team needs to rediscover its solidity, particularly at home.