Michel Sanchez, the manager of Girona, has encouraged both the players and the supporters despite the team’s loss against Athletic Club in San Mames. With 13 games remaining in the season, the Catalans’ 10-point deficit to Athletic in fifth place has shrunk to just 7. However, according to Michel, they will compete in the Champions League.
Girona came dangerously close to pulling off a stunning comeback in stoppage time, but three terrible back-row mistakes allowed Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer to score.
They can’t expect us to win every time. Each mistake is the team’s fault. Yes, we have made far too many backward passes, particularly in their second goal, therefore I suggest that they play the ball out. However, this [approach] has allowed us to come here and have a chance to succeed in San Mames.
After being destroyed by Real Madrid the previous weekend, Girona has only managed one point in their last three games against Real Sociedad. Michel, though, seemed upbeat. Michel has now stated that his team will aim for a top-four finish when previously he had always stated that their only goal was European qualification.
Everyone has suffered at San Mames. The data is solid; obviously, both Athletic and we have created opportunities. They are the ones that exert the greatest pressure at home in La Liga, so we would not succeed by merely defending. These were three intricate games, and maybe we weren’t ourselves in Madrid on that particular day. Yes, we were and still are in a privileged position in the other two.
We won’t back down from a battle, but I’m not suggesting we’re a Champions League team. We’re going to fight for the Champions League, I’ll say that, and I’ll likely get bit or thrown back at me.
Girona now has a stretch of four matches against the top-ranked team, Getafe (10th), followed by matchups with Real Betis and Atletico Madrid. The fact that they are not pursuing any cup competitions concurrently gives them an advantage over their rivals.
