Finally, one of the most awaited days arrived yesterday. It took a while, but Girona already competes in the First Division. Almost two months after touching the sky by achieving promotion in the final of the play-off against Tenerife (1-3), Míchel Sánchez’s team made their debut in the highest category of Spanish football with a defeat by the minimum in Mestalla stadium (1-0). An unfavorable result, but one that is a little better when you realize that the white-and-red team was not alone in Valencia. Close to a thousand fans traveled to the city, where it was scorching hot, to create an incredible atmosphere taking advantage of the summer holiday season, the proximity to the capital of the Valencian Country and that today is a public holiday in Catalonia – also in the rest of the state.
“As last season ended, we really wanted to start the new one. Returning with the three points in Girona would be a scandal and we would be very happy”, explained Xavi Grabolosa from Penya Immortal while traveling by bus to Valencia. He was accompanied by 58 other Girona fans. Everyone was euphoric and looking forward to the start of the match in Mestalla to be aware once and for all of what the reality of their team is. “I still don’t believe it, really. To be in Mestalla, in three weeks if we can in Mallorca, for Barça to come to Montilivi at the end of January… I’m freaking out. When Eibar scored the first goal in Montilivi, all the ghosts appeared and I said to myself, let’s go down again, shack and turn off the TV. But it hasn’t been like that. We went up in the most unexpected year”, insisted Grabolosa.
All the people who have suffered so much with Girona and who also, obviously, have had joys that they will remember forever sign their permanence this season. The dream is to stay in Primera for a long time. And if, as Míchel says, he arrives in Europe, welcome. “We hope to save ourselves. I think that Girona has the team to do it and endure. We have been discussing the signings with our colleagues and, in principle, we are very happy. We agree that we would miss Pol Lozano. We would like the club to work to try to get him back because it seems that Espanyol have no intention of having him as a starter and he can do a lot of work here. It would be a very good signing. Míchel knew how to hit the key with him in the last days last season. It could be very good for us. We also need a backup goalkeeper who can replace Juan Carlos if we see that he is needed. First is not Second”, assured Grabolosa.
In Valencia, football was once again the excuse for a large part of the Girona entourage to meet again and, incidentally, to take the opportunity to eat the traditional Valencian paella. With the aim of transmitting their warmth to Míchel’s, they hurried to meet outside the Mestalla stadium and thus be the first to receive the team when it arrived at the stadium. It was nice to see the red-and-white tide again. As it could not be otherwise, they also gave their support from inside the field. The 500 tickets that the club had available to accommodate the fans in the visiting stand had already been sold out a few days ago, apart from all the others that the supporters bought on their own either at the box office or website of Valencia considering that the prices were quite affordable depending on the area.
“The dates fall very well and it’s great to gather so many fans outside. Filling the bus, meeting cars with flags and Girona shirts on the road or service areas is nice to live. There is a good atmosphere”, commented Grabolosa. In addition, a lot of fans traveled by train early in the morning. The effort to travel was worth it, despite the defeat, to continue showing Girona that it is not alone in its journey. And the season is just starting.
The next two games will be in Montilivi and, despite the fact that the schedules are not favorable for the Girona side playing on a Monday against Getafe and on a Friday with Celta, the fans will remain loyal to the team and accompany them on their return in Primera while wishing for the first victory to come.
