Sarabia backs Espanyol to win ahead of Deportivo match

“We have more than enough resources and are ready to win,” Eder Sarabia said before Espanyol’s meeting with Deportivo, scheduled for tomorrow at the RCDE Stadium. The new coach expressed confidence on the eve of his first match in charge, although he will have to watch from the stands: he has one match of his suspension left to serve. Jon López will take his place on the bench.

Sarabia has nevertheless already had a week to work with the squad. He wants Espanyol to secure a positive result at home and build on the momentum of the victory over Villarreal in the previous round. In his view, picking up points again at the RCDE Stadium matters, and the team must make itself strong in front of its supporters.

The coach described the week’s work as encouraging and the squad as highly receptive. He did not present victory as an end in itself, but as the outcome of a strong collective performance. “It is a great challenge to get a good result and a good win again,” he said, adding that his side would need to “do a lot of things well” to achieve it. He believes the previous round’s win gave the squad an extra lift.

Building a connection with the supporters quickly is another objective. Sarabia wants fans to be proud of the team, help it and drive it on. He also expects a demanding contest: he regards Deportivo as a strong side with plenty of resources. For Espanyol to win at home, he said, the team will need to produce a solid performance rather than rely only on the energy of its previous victory.

The preparation has also focused on how the team should play. Sarabia discussed working with the central defenders and creating more favourable situations for them to play the ball out from the back. The aim is to give them more time and provide better-positioned options ahead of them. He also acknowledged that the team cannot yet fully resemble the model he eventually wants to establish. After only a week of work, he intends to build gradually on elements already in place.

The fixture is therefore a test on two fronts: Espanyol will seek another home win, while Sarabia must support the team without being able to direct it from the bench. Jon López will take that position as the new coach watches from the stands. Sarabia’s confidence ahead of the match comes with a clear demand: a good result will require his side to get enough things right on the pitch.