Eder Sarabia, willing to give Espanyol a fresh start

The transfer market for Espanyol is undergoing a football transformation with Eder Sarabia, who is already working to implement his model after replacing Manolo González. The new coach wants to take advantage of the international break in November to intensify preparations, introduce his strategies, and arrive with a more defined game plan for the match on November 20 against Athletic Club in San Mamés.

Eder Sarabia wants to change Espanyol's playing style

The Bilbao-born coach has started his tenure at Espanyol with training sessions at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque. His proposal includes a high defensive line, greater involvement with the ball, and a possession-based circulation, concepts that require adjustments compared to the team's functioning during Manolo González's tenure.

The adaptation will need to accelerate due to the calendar. The white-and-blue team will host Deportivo La Coruña this Saturday at 16:15 at the RCDE Stadium. Sarabia will not be able to lead from the bench due to a pending suspension, so Jon López, his assistant coach, will take on that responsibility.

The match is important for the standings: Espanyol arrives with 11 points, while Deportivo has three more, 14, so the result could influence the situation of both teams before the international break.

🎙️@edersa10: “We want to recover the #RCDE from the 125th anniversary. With that energy, that excitement, and that connection with the fans. We want to experience magical days again in the Stadium” https://t.co/0iQ61Zt5hp

— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) November 4, 2026

Espanyol prepares for a training camp during the November break

The sports management is considering organizing a training camp of approximately 12 days so that Sarabia can delve into his proposals. The idea is to utilize the period without league competition to develop a preparation similar to a second pre-season.

The Garrotxa region appears as a possible destination for the camp, although the club still needs to finalize logistical matters and the exact dates. The intention is to gather the squad in an environment that allows for multiple training sessions and to work on tactical aspects without the pressure of playing matches every few days.

The calendar facilitates this planning. After the match against Deportivo, Espanyol will not compete again until Friday, November 20, when they visit Athletic Club in San Mamés. Sarabia will then be able to officially debut on the bench once his suspension is served.

Four matches will mark Sarabia's first month

The new coach will have four commitments to start evaluating the results of his work before the Christmas break. After visiting Athletic, Espanyol will host Getafe during the weekend of November 28 and 29, with the exact time still to be confirmed.

The next match will be against Alavés in Mendizorroza, on December 5 or 6. The Vitoria team is also expected to compete in the lower zone, so this showdown could have direct consequences in the fight to avoid relegation.

The primary objective will be to maintain the positive momentum initiated with the victory against Villarreal at La Cerámica on October 30. That win allowed Espanyol to regain confidence before the coaching change and gave the new coaching staff room to begin their work.

Espanyol is entering a phase of adaptation where the November camp and the four matches until December 6 will provide the first assessment of the new coach's tenure.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Eder Sarabia, dispuesto a lavarle la cara al Espanyol