A duel for the Champions League is being fought this Monday in San Mamés. The second-placed team, Girona, plays with 56 points, and Athletic, which is fifth, already outside that privileged area of the classification, with 46 points. And after the defeat at the Bernabéu, Míchel is clear. “If we are able to win in San Mamés, the team’s goal will be the Champions League,” said the Girona coach, who, little by little, has been establishing ceilings for his players.
First was to avoid relegation and guarantee the third consecutive season in the First Division. Test more than passed and in less time than could be imagined. Then, the second challenge was to reach the scoring record that Machín’s Girona had at 51 points, achieved in the 2017-18 season. Also liquidated.
With Yangel Herrera and Blind
Now Girona has 56 points, which recovers Yangel Herrera and Blind, and there are still 14 rounds to play. The third was to reach Europe, even if it was through the door of second options. It is 18 points ahead of Betis, which marks the border of the Europa League. Objective more than accomplished. Yan Couto will not be there, who will serve his suspension match in Bilbao for seeing the fifth yellow card.
“Athletic is a great team, they are the team that scores the most goals at home. They have the best pressure up top in the League along with Real Sociedad”
“We have doubts about Daley, who has trained this week at a slower pace than the others,” said the Girona coach about Blind’s physical condition. “We’ll see, we’ll see. Athletic is a great team, they are the team that scores the most goals at home. They have the best pressure up top in the League along with Real Sociedad. In San Mamés they are very aggressive and forces you to be very attentive in defense. I expect our best version,” commented Míchel.
“It’s an important game, but with 59 points you won’t make it to the Champions League. We want to have a great season and think game by game,” commented the coach, who will also serve the second and final match of his suspension in San Mamés for his expulsion against the Royal Society.
Therefore, once all these objectives have been achieved, Míchel now proposes to his players a victory in San Mamés to feel secure in the top four. “If we are able to beat Athletic, we have the feeling that that goal would be very close. There would then be 13 games left and 13 points left for fifth place,” said the Vallecas coach, thus setting his sights on the challenge that Girona had never imagined achieving. . “We would be much closer.”
2024-02-18 13:08:04
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