FC Andorra Sticks with Coach Carles Manso Until Season End in Relegation Fight

**FC Andorra Retains Carles Manso as Coach Through Season End Amid Relegation Battle**

FC Andorra will keep Carles Manso as head coach until the end of the season, with the club placing full trust in the current technical staff to address the team's precarious position in the Segunda División relegation zone.

The decision, backed by majority shareholder Gerard Piqué—whose extensive football experience carries significant influence—alongside sporting director Jaume Nogués and the board, predates the recent 1-0 victory at Real Valladolid. That result, sealed by Minsu Kim's stoppage-time strike, snapped a 10-match winless run and marked the club's 100th goal in professional football since Pau Casadesús's debut winner against Real Oviedo. Officials have rejected numerous coaching offers of varying styles since Ibai Gómez's de facto resignation following the Castellón loss, opting to maintain the playing philosophy developed over recent years. No alternative bench options gained serious consideration.

Instead of a new coach, resources will target squad reinforcements. Agreements are finalized for a centre-back and full-back, while negotiations continue for a striker, winger and central midfielder. LaLiga's financial fair play rules provide the necessary margin to pursue these additions, all aimed at securing survival in the second tier.

Goalkeeper Jesús Owono, on loan from Alavés and a regular for Equatorial Guinea, will miss Saturday's home match against Deportivo de La Coruña at Nou Estadi de la FAF. He has linked up with the Nzalang Nacional for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco—the first FC Andorra player to compete in the tournament—after coach Juan Michá named him in the squad. Placed in Group E with Algeria, Burkina Faso and Sudan, Equatorial Guinea opens against the hosts on December 24 in Casablanca. The group stage concludes December 31, potentially ruling Owono out of the January 4 away fixture at Ceuta. His absence leaves just Áron Yaakobishvili and Nico Ratti as options.

Four players—Gaël Alonso, Sergio Molina, Minsu Kim and Àlex Petxa—enter the Deportivo game on four yellow cards, facing suspension for Ceuta with one more booking.

The top Segunda scorers for FC Andorra are Sinan Bakis (12 goals, now at Zaragoza), Iván Gil (10, at Las Palmas) and Carlos Martínez (9).