Eder Sarabia praises Javi Puado and hopes to have him back in about a month

“I’ve always thought he was a wonderful footballer, and I’ve told him so.” Eder Sarabia spoke those words about Javi Puado after the 0-0 draw against Deportivo. The coach also described the captain as a committed leader and sounded optimistic about his return, which he put at “about a month.” He said the coming week should give Puado the chance to build up his work. “We’ll have him back, and we’ll have him back in good shape,” Sarabia said, adding that he expected Puado to enjoy playing and bring enjoyment to others.

The match took place with Sarabia in the stands and Jon López in charge from the bench. Afterward, Sarabia said he felt his team had been clearly superior. He singled out goalkeeper Leo Román, whom he called the best player on the opposing side. The coach also praised his players’ willingness to listen and take on board his instructions.

His assessment combined satisfaction with frustration. Sarabia said his team had spent plenty of time in the opposition half, won the ball back quickly and kept its opponents in check, but regretted not turning that control into a victory. He believed Espanyol had deserved to win. At the same time, he acknowledged that there was still work to do, particularly in finding openings with the ball and making better use of space inside.

The coach also explained his selection decisions. He said the profiles he needed and the work done during the week shaped his choices, mentioning Cala, whose training had impressed him, and Pol, brought in to provide energy. He added that game plans would change depending on the opposition. Compared with the previous win at La Cerámica (0-1), Sarabia made as many as five changes, with Sergio García serving as interim coach.

On the pitch, he praised Quilindschy Hartman’s defensive work and Bryan’s contribution, while stressing that the team still had adjustments to make. Sarabia said he had been pleasantly surprised by his players’ commitment and willingness to listen. His longer-term aim is to make the team more dominant, though he stressed that he could not be satisfied after just one match.