2023-05-03 16:00:20
BarcelonaIn every clash against rivals Sevilla this Thursday (7.30pm, DAZN), Espanyol wonder what their future would have been if they had won the fateful penalty shoot-out in the 2007 UEFA final. Seven years earlier , in May 2000, the white-and-blues were in a more comfortable position than the Andalusians: while they were celebrating their third Cup, Sevilla confirmed their fourth relegation to Segona.
At the Sánchez Pizjuán, they were experiencing an institutionally turbulent time, immersed in a worrying financial crisis. A crisis that, paradoxically, became an opportunity for the one who ended up being the architect of the best years in the club’s history: Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo Monchi. After a fairly low-key career under the posts, he accepted the challenge of leading the club’s sporting direction. In addition to enhancing the squad and signing semi-unknown players from whom he derived a great sporting and financial income, Monchi was able to turn a modest team into a club respected in Europe, able to win six Europa Leagues, one European Super Cup, two Copes del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup.
Monchi’s success in the offices contributed to the clean-up of Sevilla. A very different path from the one followed by Espanyol, which suffocated by the historical debt it was carrying and the power struggles to run the organization, burned all kinds of sports directors. Since 2000, the parakeet club has had ten different ones: Fernando Molinos, Sergio Morgado, Cristóbal Parralo, Paco Herrera, Ramon Planes, Òscar Perarnau, Àngel Gómez, Jordi Lardín, Rufete and a Domingo Catoira of whom many are already questioning whether will fulfill the contract, which ends in 2024. The vast majority, people familiar with the house who had previously held other roles at the club, whether on the pitch or in the offices. The one who spent the most time in the position and had the most money to sign was Rufete, the only one with whom Espanyol suffered a relegation to Segona.
Chen cleared almost all of the debt, but not the signing restrictions. However, not having great resources has never been an impediment for Espanyol, where the sporting directors have always resorted to ingenuity and a good eye to bring in talent at low cost. “We were looking for young players, with projection and future, who will grow with us”, says Paco Herrera. For less than 30 million, Espanyol was able to incorporate Kameni; Zabaleta, Couple, Héctor Moreno; Luis García, De la Peña, Verdú, Maxi Rodríguez; Stuani, Osvaldo and Gerard Moreno. A luxury eleven that, in addition, left more than 67 million in the club’s pockets. Round business
Adrià Pedrosa, the case that sums up bad management
But why hasn’t Espanyol had its own Monchi? The club has become a crusher of sporting directors. Parralo, for example, resigned after denouncing the “interference” of “non-professional” people in his plot. Rufete decided not to renew due to criticism from the stands, despite having the support of an ownership that has had neither confidence nor patience with this figure. “Espanyol is a self-destructive club by nature, and for this reason it needs people in good wood, who are capable, honest and do not have bad faith”, wrote Ángel Gómez after being terminated after nine months of accessing the charge Jordi Lardín did not reach the two-year mark: he had Mariano, Banega, Albiol and Borja Valero linked, but the promised money did not arrive in time to be able to sign them.
With Chen Yansheng, Espanyol has invested 135 million in reinforcements and only invoiced 115 in sales. It has only generated capital gains with three of the 65 players signed since 2016: Javi Fuego, Borja Iglesias and Mario Hermoso. In the same period, Sevilla has spent 545 million, money that it has reinvested. Sign well and sell better. Adrià Pedrosa, who will leave on a free transfer precisely to Sevilla, a case that sums up the management of the two clubs. A virtuous circle that Espanyol dominated at the beginning of the century but that Chen seems to have forgotten.
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