Roberto Fernández has become the focal point of Espanyol's attack this season. The striker has scored 5 goals in 5 matches at the start of this campaign, serving as the team's primary attacking outlet under manager Manolo González and ranking among the top scorers in La Liga.

Manolo said at a press conference at RCDE Stadium on Monday: "If Roberto can maintain this goal-scoring efficiency and fulfil his true potential, he will leave for Manchester City next year. We need to be careful."

He continued: "One step at a time. Maybe if he doesn't score in two consecutive matches, everyone will say he's in poor form. But he's always doing what he's supposed to do—it's just that now he's fortunate and the ball is going in. It's very, very difficult to do this, especially at a club that isn't Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Atlético Madrid."

The manager then stated that if there were offers for Roberto in the winter transfer window, "and there are 5 clubs, that means we've done very good work. If at the end of the season 10 players want to join us, it means things have been done very well. I'm more concerned about whether he can maintain his current level."

Regarding the upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano, Manolo said the team's objective is to win, taking it step by step: "We won't look too far ahead. What matters most is the present. It's very difficult to win 3 consecutive matches in La Liga. This is our goal, and although it's difficult, it's also our ambition."

Additionally, Manolo stated that he doesn't believe in squad rotation. "What I believe in is the style of play; every opponent has strengths and weaknesses. We're playing three matches a week, which relates to physical condition. Playing three matches in six days is too much. The team needs to compete at the highest level tomorrow and Friday."

He added: "We have two fitness coaches and an excellent medical team that helps with recovery. The players themselves are very professional and will recover well, but playing constantly with such a heavy load like that comes too quickly."

Regarding injuries, the manager confirmed that Jofre is absent due to "groin discomfort," and "everyone else is available."

A major factor for Tuesday's opponent is the stadium situation. Due to facility issues at Rayo Vallecano's Vallecas stadium, the team cannot play at home, and the match will be moved to Leganés. Manolo said: "I'll tell you whether that's good or bad for us at 9 p.m., after the match. They're used to playing there. Wherever we play, it will be a very, very difficult match."

"This is a team that deserves a lot of attention. They haven't changed much after their managerial change. Their points are somewhat misleading, as they've already played at home against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their fans always support them, which also helps. This is a difficult team to face." When discussing the opponent, he also said the team cannot give them opportunities for "counterattacks" and must "play more calmly."

Finally, Manolo assessed areas for Espanyol to improve: "We still need to improve everything. If we want to be a competitive team that can maintain a high level and fight for better results, we're still far from that. Defensive shape, duels, transitions, set pieces, more possession, attacking from deep... there's still a lot to do."

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