Dolan ready for Real Madrid test as Espanyol prepares for season opener

Tyrhys Dolan, the winger who spent five years at Blackburn Rovers before joining Espanyol last summer, is gearing up for a significant career test as Real Madrid visits the RCDE Stadium. Dolan, who began his second season in Spain with a goal in Espanyol's opening-day victory, acknowledged the challenge ahead.

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These are the games you want to be playing in. They're the games the supporters want to watch and all eyes will be on it.

"These are the games you want to be playing in," Dolan stated. "They're the games the supporters want to watch and all eyes will be on it." He recognized Jose Mourinho's legendary status as a manager and his winning mentality, anticipating that Real Madrid will not underestimate Espanyol. Dolan is also aware of the possibility of facing fellow English players Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but stressed that focus remains strictly on the game. "When it's business, it's business," he said. "It's nice to be playing against top talents and other English players. It's great to see. We'll catch up after the game but all focus will be on getting three points."

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Jose Mourinho has legendary status as a manager. He's got that mentality that he wants to win every single game. They're not going to come out and treat it as an easy game against us. They're going to bring their best.

Dolan believes the key to approaching such a high-profile match is to avoid over-hyping the occasion. "You don't want to try and build a game up too much because then, when you get there, all the emotions can kind of eat you up," he explained. Instead, he plans to adhere to the routine that has been successful for him since his move to Spain, focusing on personal preparation and maintaining his headspace.

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When it's business, it's business. It's nice to be playing against top talents and other English players. It's great to see. We'll catch up after the game but all focus will be on getting three points.

His first season in Spain was a period of significant personal development, marked by adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and becoming more self-reliant away from family and friends. On the field, Dolan feels that the standard of La Liga has accelerated his progress, particularly in decision-making, crossing, and his ability to provide diverse assists. Having made over 30 appearances last season, he now feels a shift in the weight of expectation, stating, "I feel much more responsibility this year."

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You don't want to try and build a game up too much because then, when you get there, all the emotions can kind of eat you up. You focus on yourself as best as you can and make sure that you're prepared as well as you can. I like to stay within the same routine and headspace.