Manager Quique Álvarez has established a settled starting lineup at Girona, relying on a core group of players who have dominated minutes through the opening 12 rounds of the league campaign and domestic cup action, diaridegirona.cat reported.
The Undisputed Core of the Squad
Defenders Alejandro Francés and Àlex Moreno alongside midfielder Izan González have started every single fixture this season, featuring in all 12 league matches and the Copa del Rey tie away against Cuarte. Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has missed only the cup fixture through a tactical rest, while midfielder Fran Beltrán has sat out just one league contest due to injury and the initial cup match in Zaragoza.
This heavy reliance on a fixed group stems from the turbulent environment Álvarez inherited upon taking over at Montilivi. Following the club’s unexpected relegation to the Segunda División, much of the squad sought departures. Álvarez responded by narrowing his focus to establish defensive stability and competitive rhythm.
Those efforts have brought a measure of consistency, yielding just two defeats across the team’s last ten outings. Both losses occurred while Girona played a man down following red cards shown to Abel Ruiz against Castellón and David López at Zubieta.
Girona Sits Seventh Outside Promotion Playoff Places
Despite recent stability, Girona sits seventh in the league standings, outside the promotion playoff places. High expectations surrounded the club at the start of the campaign due to its budget, salary limit, and individual talent.
Beyond the ever-presents, a second tier of players has logged ten official appearances, including Abel Ruiz, Yáser Asprilla, Oleksandr Pyshchur, and Carles Pérez. David López and Junior Holmes have reached nine appearances each, though López missed early matches with an injury and Holmes spent time with Spain’s under-18 national team.
Àlex Moreno leads the squad in playing time with 1,074 minutes, closely followed by Gazzaniga at 1,036 minutes. Francés sits at 998 minutes, Izan González at 994, Beltrán at 864, and Holmes at 801. Álvarez has utilized all five substitutions in every official match this season, expanding rotation opportunities compared to previous campaigns under Míchel Sánchez.
Extensive Rotation Involves Thirty Three Players Overall
The extensive rotation has involved 33 players overall, incorporating departures from earlier in the season such as Arnau Martínez, Minsu, Iván Martín, and Dawda Camara. Academy prospects from the Segunda RFEF side, including Gibert Jordana, Guillem Badia, Mauro Furtado, Juan Arango, and Javier Sarasa, have also featured.
The team will play that match without David López following his recent dismissal, while Junior Holmes prepares for a potential departure for the sub-17 World Cup.
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