Tyrhys Dolan opened the LaLiga campaign with a bang, finding the net in Espanyol's 3-0 triumph over Levante and immediately catching the eye with a noticeably sharper edge to his game. The 24‑year‑old English forward confessed to Sky Sports that he feels like a different person and a different player compared to the one who arrived in Spain a year earlier. His inaugural season in Spanish football, after departing the Championship side Blackburn Rovers, was a mixed bag of highs and learning moments.
He earned the chance to line up against giants such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, experiences that gave him a taste of the league’s intensity. Yet Dolan insists that those early fixtures were only the beginning of his adaptation process.
“I know the league now. I know myself a lot more.
I know what I can do,” he said, signalling a newfound confidence that goes beyond merely surviving in a new environment. Last term, Dolan spent the majority of his minutes on the right flank, essentially operating as a wide provider.
"Pretty much on the touchline, hanging wide," he recalled, describing a role that demanded frequent crossing and defensive tracking. His statistics from that period reflected the emphasis on assists rather than goals, with his creative output outshining his scoring record.
That season served as an apprenticeship, broadening his skill set and teaching him how to exploit space from the extreme right. This summer, however, the coach shifted him to the left wing, a move that Dolan says has unlocked fresh attacking possibilities. "For me it is better because I can cut in and get more shots off. I can be more dangerous as a left winger," he explained.
The positional swap forces opposing defenders into a dilemma: do they stay wide to block a cross, or step inside to block a shot? Dolan thrives on that uncertainty, noting that the new angle offers "more avenues to my game" and has already yielded a goal, with the promise of more to come.
The atmosphere at the RCDE Stadium has also changed dramatically. After a promising start to the previous campaign, Espanyol endured a painful slide, moving from European‑qualification hopes in winter to a genuine relegation battle by spring.
"You'd be lying if you said you didn't feel the energy around the stadium," Dolan admitted. The emphatic win over Levante, therefore, feels like a turning point, a signal that the team’s morale has been restored. "It was just like, yeah, now we're off and running again," he said, capturing the collective optimism.
Off the pitch, the summer break offered Dolan a chance to recharge. Living alone in Barcelona can be isolating, so time spent with family and friends back in England proved vital for his mental health.
"Mentally, you need that switch off. Within the season you are constantly preparing, dealing with emotions, good or bad," he observed.
He echoed the old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder, noting that pre‑season training in England was a morale boost because his parents attended every match. Yet he also confessed to missing the unique rhythm of life in Barcelona. "Being in Barcelona means being in work mode, and as an athlete you love it in that environment. You start missing it when you are away from it for too long," he said.
The Levante performance, therefore, was more than just a goal; it was a validation of the hard work he put in during the off‑season. "It was the perfect way to start. It is a reward for the hard work, a confidence boost for the team and obviously for myself too," Dolan reflected.
However, he is aware that bigger challenges loom on the horizon. Espanyol’s next fixture pits them against the 36‑time Spanish champions, Real Madrid, in what will be the first LaLiga match of the season for the visitors. The encounter will also feature Jose Mourinho’s return to the dugout and the presence of Kylian Mbappé, whom Dolan described as the best player he faced last season. Dolan described his first meeting with Madrid as a "pinch‑me" moment.
Now, with more experience under his belt, he approaches the showdown with a cooler head, unconcerned about whether he will be matched up against Trent Alexander‑Arnold or Denzel Dumfries at right‑back. "Anybody. These are the games you want to compete against the best so you can bring your best and see where you are at," he said.
He added that while he was satisfied with his contributions in his debut season, he believes his current level is far beyond what he previously displayed. "I was happy with what I did in my first season, but I know it is nowhere near what I know I can do," he affirmed.
Looking ahead, Dolan hopes to showcase his evolution on the biggest stages, perhaps even pulling off his trademark somersault celebration after a goal against the world’s most famous club. "I felt like I could give more for this team, for the club, for the supporters," he concluded, underscoring his desire to be a decisive factor for Espanyol. In short, the English winger is determined to prove that he is a markedly different player now—more versatile, more confident, and ready to take on the challenges that LaLiga throws his way.