Espanyol goalkeeper, ÁngelFortuño, has been the only positive news in the last three games that have “bled” Manolo González's team. Since his debut in LaLiga, the parakeet player has maintained an average of five saving saves per game, preventing the team from conceding significant goals despite not achieving victories.
Fortuño made his entry into the top category on October 9, replacing the starter Dmitrovic who was suffering from discomfort. Since then they have played three consecutive games: a draw with Málaga and two defeats, against Atlético de Madrid and Racing de Santander. In each one he has demonstrated a level of performance that, according to his coach LuisBlanco, “highlights his competitive aspect” and that “is a spectacle that stops.”
In the first match at the Rosaleda, the youth player made six worthwhile saves, while in the match against Atlético de Madrid he added five interceptions, keeping the team within the playing zone. The last performance, at the Santander stadium, was equally outstanding: Fortuño made six saves in a match that ended with a definitive local comeback, allowing Espanyol to keep the score under control until the end.
Coach LuisBlanco, who has coached Fortuño on several occasions since his promotion to Espanyol B, described the goalkeeper as “untouchable” in the blue and white eleven, highlighting his competitiveness and the quality of his training. Despite the lack of positive results, the goalkeeper's performance has been a point of reference for the team, which is facing a crisis and an "open wound" in the season.
With the season still underway, Espanyol needs to capitalize on the defensive stability Fortuño has brought. The next few games will be crucial to see if the team can turn solidity in goal into positive results and get out of the crisis phase that has marked the last few games.