The weight of months of frustration finally lifted on Wednesday night as Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez broke down in tears after his side secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Athletic Club at the RCDE Stadium. It was a moment of raw emotion that capped off what Gonzalez himself described as the worst period of his life—second only to the loss of his uncle.

For Espanyol, this win was nothing short of a lifeline. Los Pericos had gone 18 games without a victory in 2026, a dismal run that saw their season spiral from European ambitions to a desperate relegation scrap. The tension was palpable until Pere Milla finally broke the deadlock with just over 20 minutes remaining, and Kike Garcia sealed the result in stoppage time. The final whistle triggered an outpouring of emotion from Gonzalez, who struggled to hold back tears as the reality of the moment set in.

"It has been the worst professional moment, and in general, apart from when my uncle died—who was like a father to me," Gonzalez admitted after the match. "Since I've been here, it's been leaps without a safety net, seasons where we couldn't afford to fail. The weight on our shoulders was immense. It's been a hellish second half of the season; the players' futures are at stake here."

The manager's candor revealed the immense pressure that comes with fighting for survival in La Liga. "You try to find the best, and when you lose, it means what you were aiming for didn't work out. I'm grateful that they've stayed by my side all this time," he said, acknowledging the support of his squad during the darkest days of the campaign.

When asked how he would sleep after such an emotional night, Gonzalez didn't sugarcoat his struggles. "I hope well. I haven't had a good sleep in months. Lately, I'm half awake at six in the morning. It's the coach's job, and even more so in my case."

With this vital three points, Espanyol now sit level on 42 points with their next opponents, Osasuna, just three points above the relegation zone. The trip to El Sadar promises to be another tense battle, but Los Pericos can take heart from their midweek breakthrough. They'll finish the season at home against Real Sociedad, who have already secured a Europa League spot thanks to their Copa del Rey triumph, though they still harbor slim hopes of climbing to fifth for better seeding.

For Gonzalez and his squad, the fight is far from over—but for one night at least, the tears were tears of relief, not despair. And in a season that has tested every ounce of their resilience, that alone feels like a victory worth celebrating.