Espanyol have appointed Sergio García as interim head coach, a day after sacking Manolo González following the club's Copa del Rey shock at fourth-tier Sestao River.

García steps up from his role in charge of Espanyol B, where he has overseen seven matches this season. He took his first training session with the senior squad at midday on Wednesday, and his first match in charge will be Friday's trip to Villarreal at La Cerámica.

González was dismissed on Tuesday, hours after Espanyol lost 4-3 in extra time to Sestao River in the first round of the Copa del Rey, with Jon Rojo scoring the winner in the 121st minute. It was the club's third straight early exit from the competition, and the defeat proved to be the final straw after a poor start to the league season.

Speaking to reporters after the defeat, González took full responsibility for the result. "(I'm) feeling really down, completely shattered, and bearing the full weight of responsibility for everything," he said. "It's one of the worst days of my life, without a doubt." In a statement, the club said: "RCD Espanyol have decided to bring Manolo González's tenure as coach of the club to an end."

The 47-year-old leaves after more than three seasons and 107 official matches in charge, having led Espanyol back to La Liga through the play-offs in 2024 and kept them in the top flight last season. His position had come under increasing scrutiny after a difficult second half of last season, when Espanyol endured an 18-match winless run spanning 143 days, and the side lost five of his final six games in charge. This season, the club have taken just one point from their last 15 in the league and sit 18th in La Liga on eight points from 10 matches.

For García, the appointment is a homecoming of sorts. The former striker made more than 200 appearances for Espanyol during his playing career, and he took charge of Espanyol B last summer after coaching Spain's Under-17 side and the youth team at Damm. The club have turned to a man who already knows the building rather than an outside appointment, with so little time before Friday's match.

That trip to Villarreal is the immediate test. Espanyol go into it in the relegation places, and García has barely two days with his new squad before a side chasing the European places. No permanent successor to González has been named, so for now the job is García's on an interim basis — and his first job is simply to steady a team that has taken one point from its last five league games.