Monchi apologises to Espanyol fans after backing Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d'Or

Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, known as Monchi, has publicly apologised to Espanyol supporters after his words about the Ballon d'Or caused unease among the club's fanbase. The sporting director had named Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as his favourite for the award, a choice that did not sit well with part of the Espanyol faithful. He addressed the matter on Cadena SER's 'El Larguero', where he acknowledged the discomfort he had caused and gave his side of the story.

• Monchi says sorry to Espanyol fans for backing Lamine Yamal in the Ballon d'Or race.
• He admits he went for the Barcelona player by prioritising the fact he is Spanish.
• The sporting director accepts that, as an Espanyol man, he should have picked anyone else.
• He assesses Espanyol's start to the season with seven points from a possible 21.
• He praises the working relationship with Manolo González and discusses Bryan Zaragoza's signing.

Why Monchi apologised for his Lamine Yamal Ballon d'Or pick

The Andalusian executive took responsibility and admitted the misstep from the perspective of the Espanyol identity. Monchi explained that when he was asked to choose between Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal, he went for the Spanish footballer without fully weighing the consequences that decision would have among the club's fans.

They gave me Mbappé, French, Harry Kane, English, or Lamine Yamal, Spanish, and I went for the Spanish side. I know what the Espanyol feeling is, but I said Lamine Yamal putting the Spanish flag first.

Monchi realised his choice had unsettled part of the Espanyol support and had no hesitation in correcting course on air. "If anyone has been upset, I apologise," he insisted, making it clear that his status as an Espanyol man should have weighed more heavily than his Spanish identity.

Monchi's take on Espanyol's start to the LaLiga season

Beyond the Ballon d'Or controversy, Monchi assessed the Catalan side's league start. Espanyol have picked up seven points from a possible 21 and are on a run of two straight defeats, a form dip that raises concerns ahead of the coming matchdays and moves the team away from the calm they were hoping for.

The sporting director admitted he was pleasantly surprised by the demanding nature of the Espanyol fanbase. In his view, living alongside a giant like Barcelona strengthens the club's own identity and explains the strong desire in the stands for a quiet season. "Hopefully we can get back on track," he said.

The strong bond between Monchi and Manolo González

Monchi was keen to stress that squad planning has been a joint effort with the coaching staff led by Manolo González. Far from imposing his own criteria, the sporting director insisted that the coaching staff and the sporting department have decided together on names, a formula he considers best suited to the project's success.

He also outlined his working philosophy. For him, the key moment in any planning process is being able to read the type of player the coach needs, rather than having the coach dictate specific names. That ability to interpret the style of play is, in his opinion, what separates good squad building from the rest.

Inside the Bryan Zaragoza signing that excited Espanyol

One of the most high-profile moves of the summer at Espanyol was the arrival of Bryan Zaragoza. Monchi revealed that the operation was complicated from a paperwork standpoint, but that convincing the player was easy because he was desperate to return to Spain, his natural habitat and the setting where he performs best.

The sporting director also noted that the combination with Manolo González proved very positive for the winger. He did acknowledge, however, that Bryan Zaragoza arrived with a significant physical deficit and that, little by little, the team is starting to see the best version of the attacking player everyone expected when the move was completed.

Frequently asked questions about Monchi and the Lamine Yamal row