One of the most surprising aspects of the current season in Spain has been the involvement of Girona in the La Liga title race, a competition in which only FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, and to some extent Atletico Madrid, are expected to come out victorious.
No one could have expected Girona to perform this well at the start of the season, and thus, the results that Michel Sanchez has been getting deserve all the credit.
The Girona coach talked at length about his coaching style, philosophy, and expectations in an interview that has been reported by Mundo Deportivo.
There were several aspects related to FC Barcelona that formed a part of this interview, and he mentioned his team’s game against Barcelona as one that fully represented what he wanted from his side:
“I’ll stick with the match against Barcelona, because of everything this team represents. Barcelona had just beaten Atlético, in good form, and I think we played a good game.”
Michel also recounted his conversation with Xavi after the match, showcasing the very different demands at Barcelona and Girona:
“If I lose, it’s okay, and if I win, it’ll be a bombshell, and for you, it’ll be the opposite. I don’t have a very clear understanding of what’s happening there [Barcelona], but I’m happy about the people who value my work at the club, even in the press. In that sense, I feel privileged.”
The former Real Madrid midfielder also identified a surprising name when asked about which one player he would want to take from Barcelona:
“If I had to pick one… It would be Oriol Romeu because I know he’s a good person and he’s a top player. I don’t know what’s happening with him because I’m not there.”
Lastly, Michel also recognized another Barcelona player as the best player in his position from his point of view:
“The best goalkeeper in the world, according to my style of play, would be Ter Stegen. In defense, I would go with Van Dijk, with De Bruyne in midfield, and Mbappé in attack because I believe he’s the player who can individually resolve the most situations with skill and sway a match.”
