Monchi had a two-year spell as president of football operations at Aston Villa from 2023 [Getty Images] Espanyol sporting director Monchi believes Spanish clubs should be paying closer attention to England's Championship, describing it as one of football's "least understood" competitions and an increasingly attractive source of talent. The former goalkeeper has returned to his native Spain after two years as president of football operations at Aston Villa, having previously held sporting director roles at Sevilla and Roma. Barcelona-based Espanyol, who finished 11th in La Liga last season, are one of the oldest clubs in Spain, having been founded in 1900. Monchi says seeking out talent in the English second tier is part of a broader strategy to tap into markets where Espanyol can compete, despite the financial restrictions imposed on Spanish clubs. Espanyol have a connection to the Championship - as the club's ownership group, led by Alan Pace, also owns Burnley. "I think the Championship is one of the least understood competitions," Monchi told BBC Sport. "Having lived in England for two years and worked with Aston Villa, and now continuing to follow the competition because of Burnley, I can say that there are some very good players there." The 57-year-old Spaniard points to Morgan Rogers as one example of the talent who came through the Championship. Rogers joined Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in 2024 after a spell in the second tier and went on to become an England international before completing a £117m move to Chelsea this summer. "That is just one example, but I could give many more," Monchi said. "I think it is a competition with an extremely high level of competitiveness, very good coaches and intense demands. It is an excellent place to discover talent." Tyrhys Dolan joined Espanyol from Blackburn Rovers in July 2025 after five seasons in the Championship, while the Spanish club have now signed Netherlands international Quilindschy Hartman on loan from Burnley. 'I cannot avoid keeping an eye on the UK' For Espanyol, the Championship represents more than simply a scouting opportunity. Spanish clubs operate under La Liga's squad-cost limits, while Premier League clubs have considerably greater financial resources. Monchi therefore believes clubs such as Espanyol have to identify markets where intelligent recruitment can compensate for a spending disadvantage. "We cannot do everything we would like to do, but we do what we can," he said. "It is true that we are at a disadvantage compared with some Spanish clubs, and particularly compared with clubs in England, Italy or Germany. "However, we have to be imaginative, work hard and look for alternatives." The link between Espanyol and Burnley gives Monchi a close connection to the English game. "I cannot avoid keeping an eye on the UK," he said. What England taught Monchi Monchi's two years at Aston Villa also changed his perspective on how a modern football club should operate. He particularly admired Villa's clear separation between the sporting and business sides, while maintaining strong relationships between ownership, staff and supporters. "There was a very clear distinction between the business side and the sporting side," he said. "There was very good synergy throughout the club, a strong relationship with the ownership and a close connection with the fans. "That does not mean applying everything in exactly the same way [at Espanyol], but they are valuable experiences." His most memorable moment in England came during his first season at Villa in 2023-24, when they qualified for the Champions League. "After 40 or so years without playing in the Champions League, securing qualification was a beautiful moment," he said. Villa also reached the semi-finals of the Conference League during his first season, before reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals in his second campaign. Data has changed recruitment Monchi's approach to identifying players has evolved considerably since he began working as a sporting director more than 25 years ago. The biggest change, he says, has been the arrival of data and artificial intelligence. "We no longer rely solely on scouting reports and subjective assessments, but also on the support provided by big data, artificial intelligence and data analysis in general," he said. "All clubs have done, and what I have done personally, is adapt to new technologies." For Espanyol, that means combining data-driven recruitment with the kind of market knowledge Monchi developed during his career in Spain, Italy and England. The objective is not simply to find cheap players, but to identify players who can increase the club's competitiveness and eventually help close the financial gap with wealthier rivals. Competing against Barcelona Monchi is equally clear that Espanyol should not measure their progress by how they compare to Barcelona, despite the two clubs sharing the same city. "Espanyol have to focus on themselves," he said. "Barcelona are a major club and an important team, but I do not think Espanyol's growth should be measured against Barcelona. Espanyol's reference point has to be Espanyol itself." His ambition is to restore Espanyol to the status their history suggests they should occupy. The club's past, he believes, provides a blueprint for where it can go again. "Espanyol have enough history and enough of a past for us to look back at what the club has been and try to become that Espanyol again," he said. "An Espanyol that was one of the most important clubs in Spain. That is where we have to aim to return." The immediate target is more modest: improve on last season's league position and consolidate the project. But beneath that cautious short-term approach is a clear belief that Espanyol can eventually compete much higher up La Liga. "The ambition is to improve on last season's league position and continue progressing, moving forward one step at a time and consolidating the project," Monchi said. And if the Championship continues to provide the sort of players he believes Spanish clubs are overlooking, it could become an important part of the route back.
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