Espanyol captain Javi Puado returned to the field after 279 days of absence due to injury, but his joy was dampened by the defeat against Atlético de Madrid. In the victory on the last day, the home team lost the goal in the final minutes, and the defender expressed his frustration in front of the DAZN microphones, pointing out that the club “is screwed” and that the goal was to win regardless of their participation.
Puado recalled that the situation is not new: Espanyol also lost in stoppage time against Málaga, when the rival scored in the last play. “We have not had any luck and they have scored against us, with poorly done surveillance,” he stated, citing the repetition of the same circumstance the previous week. The player emphasized the need to be self-critical and correct mistakes immediately, since the defense seems to break down in the final moments of the game.
Despite the criticism, Puado showed confidence in the coaching staff and his teammates. “We fully trust the coach and our abilities,” he said, referring to coach Manolo González. The defender explained that Espanyol is not a team that depends on scoring many goals, but on keeping a clean sheet. "We live by trying to keep a clean sheet. We are not a team that scores three goals per game, so we need to concede as little as possible to be able to get more points," he said.
Puado's return continues to be a point of hope for the club, which seeks to consolidate itself at the top of the table. The injury he suffered in January against Levante has been a blow to the defence, but his presence on the pitch is seen as a key element in improving defensive solidity. Espanyol must now work on discipline and concentration in the final minutes, while continuing to trust in the leadership of its captain and the direction of González to prevent goals against from being repeated in the next matches.