Following Sunday night’s epic collapse at the Cornellà-El Prat, Atlético were widely expected to dismiss beleaguered manager Gregorio Manzano.
The debacle in Barcelona came just days after a disastrous performance against Spanish minnows Albacete in Copa del Rey play.
“There are no excuses,” Manzano said in the post-game press conference.
The team remain without a single win in their league travels and are just four points clear of the relegation zone in the Primera División standings.
Spanish radio station COPE had reported before Sunday’s game that Manzano would be given the boot if Atleti were to lose against Espanyol.
In fact, the reports suggested sporting director José Luis Caminero has been combing the coaching market for the past three weeks in search of the former Sevilla man’s replacement.
But it looks like Atlético fans who woke up Monday morning hoping to read about Manzano’s sacking in the paper will have to wait until the New Year before the manager is given his marching orders.
According to AS, Caminero, Enrique Cerezo, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and youth academy director Carlos Aguilera had a meeting in which they determined that they would stick with their man until at least the Christmas break, despite a portion of the directive council of the club calling for the coach’s dismissal.
Therefore, ‘Goyo’ will be on the bench for our upcoming encounters against Rennes, Betis and Albacete.
The scenario for the Jaén-born tactician is a favourable one, as all three of those matches are at home.
The Vicente Calderón has been a fortress for los Colchoneros this season, as they have yet to fall to any visitor in the current campaign.
Other rumoured factors that led to what will obviously be considered an unfavourable decision among fed-up supporters is that potential substitutes are either tied down or awaiting other posts, as is the case with Rafa Benítez and Diego Simeone.
Also, it is said that the club are currently strapped for cash and simply cannot afford to let Manzano go.