Monchi prefers Lopetegui and leaves González hanging

At the Las Llanas stadium, on Tuesday, October 27 at 19:00, Monchi has confirmed that Manolo González will manage Sestao River, while the future of Espanyol's bench hangs by a thread and Julen Lopetegui emerges as the preferred option of the board.

Monchi keeps González for the Tuesday, October 27 knockout match against Sestao River at Las Llanas and has left open the possibility that he also manages on Friday, October 30 at the La Cerámica ground, home of Villarreal. The club has emphasized that a stumble in the Copa del Rey could trigger an immediate change.

Lopetegui, the preferred option

Julen Lopetegui, who worked as a sports journalist during his stint at Wolverhampton, is currently Qatar's manager with a contract running until 2027. The sporting director already has his name at the top of the list of possible replacements, although the financial hurdle and the need to sever ties with the Qatari federation complicate the process.

Pressure on González and Espanyol's situation

Espanyol sit in 18th place with eight points after ten rounds, with two wins, two draws and six defeats, and have gone five games without a win, accumulating only one point in the last fifteen. Following the 2‑1 loss at El Sardinero against Racing, González received an ultimatum from Monchi and his future was left in the hands of the board, although his contract runs until June 30, 2027 following the renewal approved in May.

If the replacement arrives without a tied successor, the club is considering José Luis Mendilibar, who left Olympiacos in September 2026 after winning the 2024 Conference League, and Marcelino García Toral, who ended his second stint at Villarreal at the close of the 2025/26 season. The interim option of Sergio García, the reserve team coach, to take charge of the first team is also being considered.

Tuesday in Sestao will be the first test; its result will determine who will sit on Friday at La Cerámica in charge of a dressing room that has gone five games without a win. The final decision will depend on González's performance and Lopetegui's availability to leave his role with Qatar.